16 Jurors Selected for Alec Baldwin’s Involuntary Manslaughter Trial in New Mexico
Alec Baldwin’s Trial Begins: 16 Jurors to Decide Fate in ‘Rust’ Incident Case
Sixteen jurors were chosen on Tuesday for Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico. Opening statements are set to begin on Wednesday, according to the published article of BRISTOL HERALD COURIER. The jury made up of five men and 11 women was selected by Santa Fe County special prosecutors and Baldwin’s defense team. Twelve of them will serve as the main jury and four will be alternates chosen by the court after hearing the case. These jurors will decide if Baldwin is guilty of the felony when a revolver went off during a rehearsal in October 2021 leading to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza on the set of the Western film “Rust.” The jury selection started late due to technical problems but was finished in one day. Judge Mary Marlowe Summer asked a group of 70 possible jurors if they knew about the case and all but two raised their hands. Two others said they couldn’t be fair and were excused. Baldwin wearing a gray suit, dark tie, white shirt and glasses, sat with his lawyers in the courtroom. His wife Hilaria Baldwin and brother Stephen Baldwin sat at the back.
Alec Baldwin’s Involuntary Manslaughter Trial: Jury Selection Complete, Opening Statements Wednesday
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Baldwin’s lawyer Alex Spiro both questioned the potential jurors. One potential juror expressed a strong dislike for firearms while others acknowledged owning them. Spiro emphasized the seriousness of the situation reminding the jurors that “obviously someone lost their life” and asked if anyone had reservations about being fair and impartial. No jurors indicated that they had shared opinions about the case online. Judge Summer instructed the newly seated jury to avoid news about the case and to report back on Wednesday morning marking the beginning of the trial that could see Baldwin facing up to 18 months in prison if found guilty.
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