What the Rust verdict means for Alec Baldwin’s upcoming trial, experts reveal

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The court case and ruling on a film weapon specialist for their involvement in a deadly shooting that occurred during the filming of the Western movie Rust has provided Alec Baldwin and his legal advisors with insight into what may happen during his own trial in relation to the incident.

A jury in New Mexico reached a decision in under three hours on Wednesday in the case of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

She could be sentenced to a maximum of 18 months in jail.

Baldwin's role as co-producer and leading actor on "Rust" was emphasized in testimony and closing arguments that spanned across two weeks.

During the trial of Gutierrez-Reed, both the defense and the prosecution carefully examined video recordings of Baldwin prior to the deadly shooting in order to identify any lapses in gun safety.

Baldwin is set to go on trial in July, with the participation of the identical judge and prosecution team as well as numerous witnesses from the previous case.

Deputy Levi Abeyta of Santa Fe County observed Frank Koucky III, an expert witness for the defense, as he showed how to safely release the hammer of a firearm similar to the one utilized during the filming of 'Rust.'

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Baldwin claims that he did not pull the trigger of the gun, but that it fired unexpectedly, causing the death of Hutchins and injuring Souza. Baldwin has consistently stated that he only pulled back the gun's hammer.

Baker said on Wednesday that they are fortunate enough to observe the prosecutor's performance and the judge's method. They will be knowledgeable on how the professionals deliver their statements to the jury. Baker does not anticipate that Baldwin would want to settle and believes that his legal team will advise him that this case differs from the one against Hannah.

Baker reported that the prosecution's weapons specialist presented convincing testimony in the case against Gutierrez-Reed. However, the expert responsible for maintaining firearms held the same views as Baldwin's group, who asserted from the start that it wasn't the armorer's responsibility to inspect the weapon, according to Baker.

Bryan Carpenter, an expert witness and consultant on firearms used in movies, gave evidence that indicated that Baldwin had violated safety protocols while shooting a gun loaded with blanks towards a camera, within a "no-go" zone at close range. Carpenter also stated that Baldwin had urged the crew members to rapidly reload his revolver, and had waved his gun around like a pointer after the scene had finished. In one clip, Baldwin can be heard firing a gun after the director had called out, "Cut!"

Alec Baldwin was practicing his performance while they were preparing for the Western film.

The shooting that occurred during a rehearsal in an improvised church on a movie set near Santa Fe on October 21, 2021, has no video footage that investigators have found. However, Gutierrez-Reed's trial consisted of accounts from people who saw the shooting but have not been shared before.

There were a number of people who saw what happened, including Souza. He was hit by a bullet and felt the impact, but didn't actually see who fired the gun. He was trying to get a better look at the camera monitor at the time.

A camera operator who moves the camera on a dolly and an assistant director named Dave Halls both described the experience of hearing the gun go off and what happened immediately after. Mamie Mitchell, the person who wrote the script, confirmed that the script did not say that Baldwin should point the gun.

During her final statement against Gutierrez-Reed, prosecutor Kari Morrissey pointed out Alec Baldwin's behavior and disregard for proper firearm handling in the church that day. She expressed that Baldwin will be held accountable for his actions, but not in this particular trial and not by this jury. Instead, another jury will have to address his behavior on a different day.

Morrissey and Jason Lewis, who are both lawyers, brought up the case against Baldwin in front of a grand jury back in January. They were successful in getting an indictment for one felony charge, which now gives them two options to prosecute him. They had to restart the case after an initial charge of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin was dropped, but a recent examination of the gun gave them new evidence to work with.

The individual responsible for managing the weapons featured in the film ‘Rust’ is known as Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

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According to the report from Forensic Science Services in Arizona, it was determined that the hammer of the gun presented as evidence could only have been released if the trigger had been pulled or pressed with enough force.

During the Gutierrez-Reed trial, the person who wrote a previous FBI report on the firearm provided testimony indicating that the gun was initially equipped with functional safety mechanisms. According to their testimony, the only feasible way for the revolver to discharge when the hammer was fully withdrawn was if it sustained physical damage from being hit with a mallet.

Baldwin's defense lawyers have not indicated any willingness to cooperate with the special prosecutors assigned by Mary Carmack-Altwies, the District Attorney of Santa Fe. She is currently facing a competition in the upcoming Democratic primary from a previous DA in June.

A message seeking donations in February from Carmack-Altwies promised to deliver fairness to Hutchins and her relatives, regardless of any other individuals involved, although Baldwin was not specifically mentioned.

In the area where I hold jurisdiction, nobody can escape from taking responsibility just because they are famous, wealthy or well connected. This is what she expressed in her writing.

While Gutierrez-Reed was on trial last week, a prosecutor asked a witness for the prosecution if Mr. Baldwin was also being tried. The witness responded by stating the obvious.

Ross Addiego, a member of the crew who witnessed the tragic shooting up close and sued Baldwin in a civil court, mentioned that Baldwin seems to be slightly affected.

The legal case is part of many other lawsuits, including claims for wrongful death that have been filed by Hutchins' family members. The allegations are focused on the defendants' lack of attention to safety standards. Baldwin and the rest of the accused parties have rejected these claims.