The trial begins

Sixteen jurors were seated on Tuesday for Alec Baldwinrsquos involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico where opening statements started on Wednesday Five men and 11 women were chosen by Santa Fe County special prosecutors and the actorrsquos team of defence attorneys Twelve will be designated as the jury and four as alternates by the court only after they hear the caseTheyrsquoll be tasked with deciding whether Baldwin committed the felony when during a rehearsal in October 2021 a revolver went off while he was pointing it at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins killing her and wounding director Joel Souza on the set of the film RustMedia members were not allowed in the courtroom when attorneys used their challenges to strike jurors Those sworn into the jury were told to avoid news about the case and to report on Wednesday morning Baldwin 66 could get up to 18 months in prison if the jurors unanimously find him guiltyWhen Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer asked the pool of 70 possible jurors if they were familiar with the case all but two raised their hands to indicate they were Two others indicated they would not be able to be fair and impartial and were excusedBaldwin the star of 30 Rock 2006 and The Hunt for Red October 1990 and a major Hollywood figure for 35 years sat in the courtroom with a team of four lawyers His wife Hilaria Baldwin and brother The Usual Suspects 1995 actor Stephen Baldwin were seated in the back of the courtroomUnder questioning from prosecutor Kari Morrissey a potential juror said she hates firearms but many others acknowledged owning them and few people expressed strong opinions about guns Baldwinrsquos lawyer Alex Spiro in his questioning highlighted the gravity of the situation ldquoobviously someone lost their liferdquo and asked jurors to come forward with any reservations about their own ability to be fair and impartialldquoDoes anyone have that view even in the slightestrdquo Spiro asked the group He asked them to come forward if theyrsquod shared opinions about the case online None did Spiro asked if any of them had strong opinions on gun safety and whether a person can rely on an expert to ensure the safety of a gun not just themselvesSeveral said they always treat a gun as if it were loaded One man said he was taught to respect and treat guns the same way but also deferred to an instructor during instruction he got for a concealed carry permitSpiro also asked whether jurors were comfortable questioning the judgment of law enforcement officials even those testifying under oath Baldwin and his wife arrived at the courthouse early with their youngest child Ilaria Catalina Irena BaldwinBaldwin has said the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins who was behind the camera Unaware that the gun contained a live round Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer not the trigger and it firedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever