Alec Baldwin’s trial over ‘Rust’ movie shooting begins

Actor Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial gets underway in New Mexico following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the 2021 set of the film “Rust.” Follow here for the latest.

In a significant victory for the defense, Alec Baldwin’s role as a producer on the film “Rust” will not be considered during his involuntary manslaughter trial in the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled Monday. Baldwin’s position as a producer has consistently been part of the prosecution’s strategy as it has sought to show he had more responsibility and influence on the set than just as an actor. In court Monday, the prosecution said as producer he should have been aware of set safety requirements, while Baldwin’s defense said this evidence was prejudicial and confusing to the jury. In issuing her ruling, the judge admitted she struggled to understand the prosecution’s arguments. The judge said her decision was impacted by the fact that there were other producers on the film and Baldwin himself was not solely responsible for on set decision-making. “The probative value is not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice and certainly confusion of issues to the jury, so I’m denying evidence of his status as a producer,” she concluded.