Alec Baldwin was called “sick” as he arrived in court for the second day of his manslaughter trial over a fatal shooting on the set of his Western film “Rust.”
The 66-year-old actor arrived Wednesday in a convoy of three SUVs while wearing a dark suit and avoiding questions from reporters camped outside the Santa Fe courthouse.
Baldwin and his wife Hilaria, 40, appeared in court as opening statements were made in the case involving the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the western film in October 2021.
The stakes for Baldwin are incredibly high and were clearly illustrated in February when Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 26, the set’s gunsmith, went to trial and was found guilty of the same charges in the same court.
Outside the courtroom stood attorney Gloria Allred holding a photograph of Halyna Hutchins, her mother Olga and Hutchins’ son.
Allred is representing the Hutchins family in Ukraine as part of a civil negligence lawsuit they have filed against Baldwin in the US.
The 66-year-old actor arrived at the courthouse on Wednesday in a convoy of three SUVs, wearing a dark suit and avoiding questions from reporters.
The stakes for Baldwin are incredibly high and were clearly illustrated in February when Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 26, the set’s gunsmith, went to trial and was found guilty.
Baldwin and his wife Hilaria, seen here, appeared in court as opening statements were made in the case.
Outside the courtroom was attorney Gloria Allred, who held a photo of Halyna Hutchins, her mother Olga and Hutchins’ son and called Baldwin “sick.”
According to Allred, the family has been unable to come because of the ongoing conflict in the country and said: “We would like to know the truth, we would like justice.”
He added: ‘Baldwin, although his lawyers have unfairly attacked us, suggested that they did not have a close relationship with Halyna, which is false.
“I know Alec brought one of his seven kids, apparently he signed up for a reality show. This is not a reality show!”
‘This is a manslaughter trial of a talented young director of photography. She had a right to be safe on that set, as did all the crew members.
‘I don’t know if Alec Baldwin decided to have the reality show include holding his baby or whether his wife would hold the baby and then hand it off to a nanny or a producer.
“It’s a cynical and potentially calculated public relations move to make him appear more sympathetic to the jury.”
Allred held up the photo and said, “This is a boy, too. This is Halyna’s son, who no longer has a mother.”
‘Let’s not forget, this is a real case in Santa Fe, New Mexico and should be taken seriously!’
Asked what she thought about him being able to film his reality show from jail, she added: “I don’t know what his plans are, except if he uses this trial and his kids as part of a reality show. I think it’s sick.”
In court, Baldwin sat at the defense table and appeared nervous, while Hilaria and her brother Stephen Baldwin, who is also an actor, sat behind him in the public gallery.
In her opening statement, Erlinda Johnson, the special prosecutor appointed to the case, said Baldwin had “violated fundamental rules of firearm safety” and had been “reckless” on the set.
Johnson said Baldwin had requested the largest gun available after arriving on set in October 2021.
Halyna Hutchins died after being hit by a bullet from the prop gun Baldwin was handling.
Baldwin is being represented by Alex Spiro, a high-profile attorney whose other clients include Elon Musk, Jay-Z, Mick Jagger and Naomi Osaka.
The 66-year-old Emmy Award-winning actor has pleaded not guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
In court, Baldwin sat at the defense table and appeared nervous while Hilaria and her brother Stephen Baldwin, both seen behind the star, sat behind him in the public gallery.
The trial is the culmination of a nightmare for Baldwin that has lasted nearly three years and has finally reached the courts.
The 66-year-old Emmy Award-winning actor has pleaded not guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Baldwin is being represented by Alex Spiro, a high-profile attorney whose other clients include Elon Musk, Jay-Z, Mick Jagger and Naomi Osaka.
Baldwin was a producer and star of Rust when he shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, a 42-year-old mother of one, while she was filming with a prop gun that had a live bullet inside. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also wounded.
The case has had a long and winding road to trial: Baldwin was originally charged in January 2023 with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
The film was being shot on the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set in Santa Fe.
Prosecutors said they dropped the charges three months later in light of new evidence, adding they needed more time to investigate.
Baldwin was sensationally charged for a second time in January of this year on the same charges.
Baldwin and his wife are currently filming a reality show about their family. It’s unclear if a camera crew is following them around New Mexico, but the show is scheduled to air in 2025, meaning filming is likely already underway.
The case is expected to play out over eight days with evidence and arguments followed by deliberations.
