Fatal shooting on Rust set | Baldwin portrayed as reckless lawbreaker at trial

(Santa Fe) Prosecutors sought to portray actor Alec Baldwin as a rule-breaker with little regard for safety on the first day of his New Mexico trial for the manslaughter of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson has repeatedly said that Baldwin was “playing pretend” with a gun on the set of the film. Rustand said it led to very real danger and the death of Hutchins, whom she called “a vibrant, rising 42-year-old star.”

Ocampo Johnson told jurors in his opening statement Wednesday that Baldwin “asked to be given the biggest gun available” and that during a training session for it, he had “people filming him running around shooting that gun.”

The prosecutor said the behind-the-scenes video allegedly shows Baldwin casually disregarding basic gun safety.

Hutchins’ death and the injury of director Joel Souza nearly three years ago sent shockwaves through the film industry and led to a manslaughter charge against Baldwin that could carry up to 18 months in prison.

The trial of the 66-year-old star of 30 Rock and frequent host of Saturday Night Live continues Thursday with testimony from a crime scene technician with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department.

The beginning of technician Marissa Poppell’s testimony allowed jurors to see the revolver and the bullet expended during the filming.

Doing your job as an actor

Baldwin’s attorney, Alex Spiro, stressed in his opening statement that Baldwin was only doing what actors always do.

“He has to be able to take that weapon and use it like the person he’s playing would,” he said.

That includes pulling the trigger. Baldwin said the gun fired accidentally, but Spiro argued it was still not manslaughter, even if he fired it intentionally.

“On a film set, you’re allowed to pull the trigger,” he argued.

Spiro called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy,” adding that an “extraordinary person” had died. But he maintains that the blame lies with the film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and assistant director David Halls, who Baldwin said the gun was “cold.”

An agent testifies

The first witness to testify was Nicholas LeFleur, the first law enforcement officer to arrive on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set after the shooting, and his bodycam video gave jurors a glimpse of the chaotic scene: a grim view of Hutchins, apparently unconscious as LeFleur and others worked to resuscitate her.

Later in the video, LeFleur can be seen telling Baldwin not to talk to other potential witnesses, but Baldwin does so repeatedly.

“Was Mr. Baldwin supposed to talk about the incident?” special prosecutor Kari Morrissey asked him.

“No, ma’am,” LeFleur replied.

“Does he seem to do it anyway?” Morrissey asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” LeFleur said.

Among those sitting in the gallery behind Baldwin watching the trial were his wife Hilaria Baldwin, his younger brother Stephen Baldwin and his older sister Elizabeth Keuchler — who at times wiped away tears during the proceedings.