Jury selection complete for Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial

Sixteen jurors were seated Tuesday for Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico, where opening statements are set to start Wednesday.

Five men and 11 women were chosen by Santa Fe County special prosecutors and the actor's team of defence attorneys. Twelve will be designated as the jury and four as alternates by the court, only after they hear the case.

They'll be tasked with deciding whether Baldwin committed the felony when, during a rehearsal in October 2021, a revolver went off while he was pointing it at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. They were on the set of the Western film Rust, at Bonanza Creek Ranch some 29 kilometres from where the trial is being held.

The selection got off to a slow start Tuesday with a delay of over two hours due to technical problems, but the panel was selected in a single day, as expected.

When Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer asked the pool of 70 possible jurors if they were familiar with the case, all but two raised their hands to indicate they were.

Two others indicated they would not be able to be fair and impartial and were excused.

Baldwin, 66, could get up to 18 months in prison if the jurors unanimously find him guilty. 

Baldwin, the star of 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and a major Hollywood figure for 35 years, sat in the courtroom with a team of four of his lawyers, dressed in a grey suit, dark tie, white shirt with glasses and neatly combed hair.

His wife, Hilaria, and his brother, The Usual Suspects actor Stephen, were seated in the back of the courtroom.

Under questioning from prosecutor Kari Morrissey, a potential juror said she hates firearms, but many others acknowledged owning them and few people expressed strong opinions about guns.

Baldwin's lawyer Alex Spiro in his questioning highlighted the gravity of the situation — "Obviously, someone lost their life" — and asked jurors to come forward with any reservations about their own ability to be fair and impartial.

"Does anyone have that view, even in the slightest?" Spiro asked the group.

He asked them to come forward if they'd shared opinions about the case online. None did.

Spiro asked if any of them had strong opinions on gun safety, and whether a person can rely on an expert to ensure the safety of a gun, not just themselves.