The primary day of witness testimony at Alec Baldwin’s felony trial in New Mexico was an emotional one.
Baldwin’s sister Beth Keuchler was in tears throughout opening statements as she sat within the courtroom to assist her brother, per a Wednesday, July 10, report from Leisure Tonight.
“Stephen [Baldwin] was seen consoling his sister, who was crying throughout opening statements,” a supply instructed the outlet.
This reportedly continued right into a break within the trial when “[Beth] and Stephen went out into the hallway, the place Stephen continued to console his sister, who was visibly emotional, crying and wiping away tears.”
The supply went on to say that Alec “joined his household and hugged his sister” earlier than the break ended.
Alec’s spouse, Hilaria Baldwin, and their 21-month-old daughter, Ilaria — the youngest of the couple’s seven kids — have been additionally current.
Alec, 66, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter stemming from the deadly capturing that passed off in October 2021 on the set of his upcoming movie Rust. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on set when a gun that Alec was holding went off. If convicted, Alec faces as much as 18 months in jail.
The movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, has already been convicted and was sentenced to 18 months.
Particular prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson spent her opening assertion trying to argue Alec was careless on set.
“You will note him utilizing this gun as a pointer to level at individuals, to level at issues,” she mentioned, per Court docket TV’s livestream of the trial. “You will note him cock the hammer when he’s not speculated to.”
“You will note him put his finger on the set off when his finger is just not speculated to be on the set off. You’ll hear about quite a few breaches of firearm security with this defendant and this use of his firearm.”
Alec’s lawyer Alex Spiro countered by outlining the security measures the movie’s crew took, implying the actor had each purpose to consider the gun was not loaded. He mentioned “the gun was double-checked” and the crew “verified it was a chilly gun,” including that Alec was allegedly by no means instructed there was a dwell spherical within the chamber.
Spiro added, “It had been checked and double-checked by these answerable for making certain the gun was protected. He didn’t tamper with it, he didn’t load it himself. He didn’t depart it unattended.”
Alec has repeatedly stood by his assertion that he didn’t pull the set off on the prop gun.
Along with opening statements, the prosecution referred to as its first witness, Santa Fe deputy Nicholas LeFleur, who was the primary legislation enforcement official on the scene. Jurors additionally heard the 911 name positioned instantly after the capturing.