Opening statements to begin in trial of Alec Baldwin, charged in shooting death on “Rust” film set. Here’s what to know.

Opening statements are set to begin Wednesday in the trial of award-winning actor Alec Baldwin, who’s charged in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.” Baldwin has pleaded not guilty in the case. 

Jury choice Tuesday was marked by delays, with the questioning of the 70 potential jurors beginning a number of hours later than anticipated. But by the top of the day, that pool had been winnowed to 16 jurors, 4 of whom are alternates. The 11 ladies and 5 males seated will hear the case over the approaching weeks and resolve whether or not to convict the 66-year-old actor.

Here’s what to know.

What occurred on the “Rust” set?

Around 2 p.m. native time on Oct. 21, 2021, a prop firearm held by Baldwin went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza throughout a rehearsal in a small church on the set. Baldwin, the Western’s star and coproducer, has mentioned he pulled again the Colt .45’s hammer, however did not pull the trigger. 

Authorities had been called to the set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch and Hutchins was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque by way of helicopter, the place she died of her accidents, in accordance to the sheriff’s workplace on the time.

Authorities who searched the set recovered stay ammunition. The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator decided in 2022 that the incident was an accident.

What cost does Alec Baldwin face?

Alec Baldwin faces a cost of involuntary manslaughter, a felony. If convicted, he may face up to a yr and a half in jail. He has pleaded not guilty.

He was initially charged in January 2023 however prosecutors dismissed these counts three months later. Prosecutors once more indicted Baldwin on a cost of involuntary manslaughter in January.

Baldwin requested for the cost to be dismissed, however the decide overseeing the case rejected his request.

Where is the trial, when does it begin and the way lengthy will it final?

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer is presiding over the trial in New Mexico’s First District Court, in Santa Fe.

The decide set the trial calendar to run from July 9-19. Jury choice was accomplished Tuesday, which suggests opening statements are on faucet for Wednesday. Courtroom proceedings are anticipated to conclude by July 19, after which the case will go to the jury for deliberations.

Court begins at 8:30 a.m. MDT, 10:30 a.m. EDT. The decide mentioned she expects courtroom to break at 10:15 a.m. native time for lunch, then at 3:30 p.m.

While cameras weren’t allowed in the courtroom throughout jury choice, the trial can be livestreamed.

Will Alec Baldwin testify?

Baldwin’s attorneys haven’t mentioned whether or not the actor will take the stand in his personal protection. The actor has been in courtroom for proceedings and is anticipated to attend day by day.

Who else is anticipated to testify?

The state’s witness list comprises 44 names, whereas the protection lists 14 people as potential witnesses.

While prosecutors needed to name the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the case, the decide dominated in June she could not be compelled to testify in opposition to Baldwin. She didn’t testify in her personal protection.  

On the prosecution’s listing of dozens of potential witnesses is Joel Souza, the film’s director who was additionally wounded in the shooting, together with a number of individuals who additionally also testified at Gutierrez-Reed’s trial, equivalent to Seth Kenney, who owned the prop weapons firm that equipped the film’s ammunition; Wyatt Mortenson, a stuntman on the film; and Gabrielle Pickle, a line producer.

The protection’s shorter list of potential witnesses consists of David Halls, assistant director and security coordinator; Ryan Winterstern, a producer who additionally testified in Gutierrez-Reed’s trial; and different members of the crew, amongst others.

The Los Angeles-based Hutchins, 42, was a self-described “restless dreamer” and “adrenaline junkie” who grew up on a distant Soviet army base. The Ukranian-born cinematographer earned a level in International Journalism from Kyiv National University and graduated from the American Film Institute conservatory. Widely thought to be a rising star, her work included “Archenemy,” starring Joe Manganiello, “Blindfire” and “Darlin’,” which premiered on the SXSW film pageant in 2019. 

Baldwin introduced in 2022 he had settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Hutchins’ household: her husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their son, Andros.

Has anybody else been prosecuted in the case?

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer who oversaw firearms on the set, was additionally charged with involuntary manslaughter. Though she pleaded not guilty, she was convicted in March and sentenced to 18 months behind bars after a trial overseen by the identical decide overseeing Baldwin’s case. Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted on a cost of tampering with proof. 

Earlier, Halls pleaded no contest to unsafe dealing with of a firearm. Halls, who agreed to cooperate in the shooting investigation, obtained a suspended sentence of six months probation.

The manufacturing firm overseeing the film was fined $136,000 fine, the utmost below state legislation, by New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau over the incident.