During Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial on Thursday, new revelations emerged regarding the Rust film set incident where a prop gun misfired, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza. Crime scene technician Marissa Poppell testified that among the discoveries were five live bullets scattered across the set in various locations, including on a prop cart, in an ammunition box, and notably, in two prop gun holsters worn by actors Alec Baldwin and Jensen Ackles.
Poppell confirmed under questioning from defense attorney Alex Spiro that Ackles, known for his roles in CW’s Supernatural and Amazon Prime’s The Boys, had inadvertently carried a live round in his bandolier during filming. Ackles, present on set the day of the tragic incident, was not credited in Rust’s IMDb listing and later departed due to scheduling conflicts, being replaced by Josh Hopkins as production resumed in Montana after an 18-month hiatus following the accident.
While Baldwin, who also serves as the film’s co-producer, had previous charges of involuntary manslaughter dropped before a grand jury re-indicted him, Ackles was not implicated in the criminal proceedings. The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering, receiving an 18-month prison sentence.
Prosecutors have sought to establish Baldwin’s alleged recklessness on set, accusing him of mishandling the prop firearm. Baldwin, through his attorney Spiro, has maintained his innocence, although Spiro acknowledged the possibility that Baldwin may have pulled the trigger unintentionally.
Throughout the trial, Baldwin’s role as a producer has been a contentious issue, with Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruling that it does not directly impact the charges against him. If convicted, Baldwin faces potential imprisonment and fines. The trial continues to unfold as legal teams present their arguments and evidence related to the tragic events on the Rust film set.
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