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Prosecutors sought to cast Alec Baldwin as someone who flouts rules and has little regard for safety at the first day of his New Mexico trial in the shooting of a cinematographer.Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna Hutchins after a shooting on the “Rust” film set near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Witness testimony continues on Day 2 Day 2 of the trial began with witness testimony from Crime Scene Technician Marissa Poppell. Poppell is the fourth witness to take the stand in Baldwin’s trial. During cross examination, defense attorneys displayed photos of live rounds found on the set during the investigation. Also mentioned was a conversation between the crime scene tech and Baldwin while at the scene about how the gun was manipulated. After the tech said she could not recall the exact conversation, defense attorneys then asked about the similarities between live and dummy ammunition. Defense attorney Alex Spiro: “You’re working theory as you evaluated the ammunition and looked at the similarity between the Starline nickel live and the Starline nickel dummies is that they could have been easily co-mingle.” Crime scene technician Marissa Poppell: “Yes.”Spiro: “In other words, somebody could have mistaken one for the other.”Poppell: “Right. Yes.” The judge broke for recess shortly after. At 1 pm, the judge and attorneys for both side convened in a hearing without the jury to argue over evidence in the case. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stopped arguments at 2 pm and brought the jury back into the courtroom to continue testimony in the trial from Poppell.Below is a recap of Day 1 of the trial. Opening StatementsProsecutors began opening statements by presenting evidence of the gun and explaining to the jury that they will learn the difference between “dummy” ammunition rounds and live ammunition rounds. Prosecutors say evidence will show that Alec Baldwin played make believe with a real gun and while it was a movie set, it was a real working place for real people. Prosecutors detailed what they plan to prove in the timeline of the shooting from armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed loading the gun to when the gun fired while in Baldwin’s hands. Prosecutors say they plan to present evidence contradicting the statements from Baldwin claiming that he didn’t pull the trigger. They plan to use firearms experts to prove their case. They also described the steps the FBI took to test the gun to see how it would fire or if it would malfunction. They also admit the gun was damaged during accidental discharge testing.Prosecutors also say they will look at blocking and rehearsal saying Baldwin did his own thing while Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza did blocking and rehearsal. They also plan to present evidence that Baldwin violated safety rules during blocking and rehearsal. Prosecutors say that during rehearsal the director directed him to slowly take out the gun. Prosecutors allege that Baldwin had his finger on or around the trigger. They plan to present testimony about that. In opening statements for the defense, new video was played that showed the scene where Baldwin was to pull the gun from the holster. The video was shown as part of opening statements by Baldwin’s attorneys.Defense attorneys say this was an unspeakable tragedy, but that Baldwin committed no crime.Attorneys also stated to the jury in opening statements that there were people who were in charge of safety and they failed in their responsibilities. They said safety had to occur before it ends up in the actor’s hands and stated the actor’s job is to act.Defense attorneys then showed the never before seen clip where Baldwin was scripted to pull the gun from his holster.Witness TestimonyKari Morrisey: Was Mr. Baldwin supposed to be talking about the incident?LeFleur: No, ma’am.Morrisey: He appeared to be doing it, anyway?LeFleur: Yes.Alex Spiro: Do you think it’s a fair? Honestly, sir, a fair characterization to this jury to say that Mr. Baldwin was disobeying police orders at the scene?LeFleur: He was given orders, but I didn’t repeat it to tell him not to. My bad.The second person on the stand was Timoteo Benavidez, a lieutenant for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, who said during the initial investigation, there were limited deputies on the scene, even after a request to state police for backup.Benavidez: I don’t remember if they said they didn’t have enough, or they didn’t have availability, or the supervisor just said no.Alex Spiro: Didn’t the supervisors say that they believe this would likely be unfounded and it was probably an accident?An objection was called right after that.The last witness to take the stand was Marissa Poppell, Santa Fe Sheriff’s Crime Scene Technician. She said the gun was sent to the FBI for an analysis on DNA, fingerprints and gun residue. However, the defense has argued this analysis damaged the gun.Morrisey: When you sent this firearm to the FBI, did it appear intact?Poppell: Yes.Morrisey: At some point, did you receive it back from the FBI?Poppell: Yes.Morrisey: Had its condition changed?Poppell: YesPoppell said the ammo on set was also sent back to be tested, some she said were live rounds. On Thursday, she will be cross examined by the defense.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Prosecutors sought to cast Alec Baldwin as someone who flouts rules and has little regard for safety at the first day of his New Mexico trial in the shooting of a cinematographer.
Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna Hutchins after a shooting on the “Rust” film set near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Witness testimony continues on Day 2
Day 2 of the trial began with witness testimony from Crime Scene Technician Marissa Poppell.
Poppell is the fourth witness to take the stand in Baldwin’s trial.
During cross examination, defense attorneys displayed photos of live rounds found on the set during the investigation.
Also mentioned was a conversation between the crime scene tech and Baldwin while at the scene about how the gun was manipulated.
After the tech said she could not recall the exact conversation, defense attorneys then asked about the similarities between live and dummy ammunition.
Defense attorney Alex Spiro: “You’re working theory as you evaluated the ammunition and looked at the similarity between the Starline nickel live and the Starline nickel dummies is that they could have been easily co-mingle.”
Crime scene technician Marissa Poppell: “Yes.”
Spiro: “In other words, somebody could have mistaken one for the other.”
Poppell: “Right. Yes.”
The judge broke for recess shortly after.
At 1 pm, the judge and attorneys for both side convened in a hearing without the jury to argue over evidence in the case. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stopped arguments at 2 pm and brought the jury back into the courtroom to continue testimony in the trial from Poppell.
Below is a recap of Day 1 of the trial.
Opening Statements
Prosecutors began opening statements by presenting evidence of the gun and explaining to the jury that they will learn the difference between “dummy” ammunition rounds and live ammunition rounds.
Prosecutors say evidence will show that Alec Baldwin played make believe with a real gun and while it was a movie set, it was a real working place for real people.
Prosecutors detailed what they plan to prove in the timeline of the shooting from armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed loading the gun to when the gun fired while in Baldwin’s hands.
Prosecutors say they plan to present evidence contradicting the statements from Baldwin claiming that he didn’t pull the trigger. They plan to use firearms experts to prove their case. They also described the steps the FBI took to test the gun to see how it would fire or if it would malfunction. They also admit the gun was damaged during accidental discharge testing.
Prosecutors also say they will look at blocking and rehearsal saying Baldwin did his own thing while Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza did blocking and rehearsal. They also plan to present evidence that Baldwin violated safety rules during blocking and rehearsal.
Prosecutors say that during rehearsal the director directed him to slowly take out the gun. Prosecutors allege that Baldwin had his finger on or around the trigger. They plan to present testimony about that.
In opening statements for the defense, new video was played that showed the scene where Baldwin was to pull the gun from the holster.
The video was shown as part of opening statements by Baldwin’s attorneys.
Defense attorneys say this was an unspeakable tragedy, but that Baldwin committed no crime.
Attorneys also stated to the jury in opening statements that there were people who were in charge of safety and they failed in their responsibilities. They said safety had to occur before it ends up in the actor’s hands and stated the actor’s job is to act.
Defense attorneys then showed the never before seen clip where Baldwin was scripted to pull the gun from his holster.
Witness Testimony
Kari Morrisey: Was Mr. Baldwin supposed to be talking about the incident?
LeFleur: No, ma’am.
Morrisey: He appeared to be doing it, anyway?
LeFleur: Yes.
Alex Spiro: Do you think it’s a fair? Honestly, sir, a fair characterization to this jury to say that Mr. Baldwin was disobeying police orders at the scene?
LeFleur: He was given orders, but I didn’t repeat it to tell him not to. My bad.
The second person on the stand was Timoteo Benavidez, a lieutenant for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, who said during the initial investigation, there were limited deputies on the scene, even after a request to state police for backup.
Benavidez: I don’t remember if they said they didn’t have enough, or they didn’t have availability, or the supervisor just said no.
Alex Spiro: Didn’t the supervisors say that they believe this would likely be unfounded and it was probably an accident?
An objection was called right after that.
The last witness to take the stand was Marissa Poppell, Santa Fe Sheriff’s Crime Scene Technician. She said the gun was sent to the FBI for an analysis on DNA, fingerprints and gun residue. However, the defense has argued this analysis damaged the gun.
Morrisey: When you sent this firearm to the FBI, did it appear intact?
Poppell: Yes.
Morrisey: At some point, did you receive it back from the FBI?
Poppell: Yes.
Morrisey: Had its condition changed?
Poppell: Yes
Poppell said the ammo on set was also sent back to be tested, some she said were live rounds. On Thursday, she will be cross examined by the defense.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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