The first day of Alec Baldwin's criminal trial in New Mexico was an emotional one. Alec's sister Beth Keuchler was in tears during opening statements, and her brother was seen consoling her in the courtroom. A source told Entertainment Tonight that Beth was crying during opening statements, and Stephen Baldwin, Alec's brother, was seen consoling her.
The emotional scene continued into a break in the trial, when Beth and Stephen went out into the hallway. Stephen continued to console his sister, who was visibly emotional, crying and wiping away tears. Alec joined his family and hugged his sister before the break ended.
Alec's wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and their 21-month-old daughter, Ilaria, were also present in the courtroom. Alec, 66, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter stemming from the fatal shooting that took place in October 2021 on the set of his upcoming film Rust. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on set when a gun that Alec was holding went off.
Special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson spent her opening statement attempting to argue that Alec was careless on set. She claimed that Alec used the gun as a pointer, cocked the hammer when he wasn't supposed to, and put his finger on the trigger when it wasn't supposed to be there. Alec's attorney, Alex Spiro, countered by outlining the safety measures the film's crew took, implying that Alec had every reason to believe the gun was not loaded.
The prosecution called its first witness, Santa Fe deputy Nicholas LeFleur, who was the first law enforcement official on the scene. Jurors also heard the 911 call placed immediately after the shooting. Alec has repeatedly stood by his assertion that he did not pull the trigger on the prop gun.
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