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The second day of Alec Baldwin’s trial: unraveling the mystery of the vintage Colt .45 revolver
The courtroom was abuzz on the second day of Alec Baldwin’s trial, as the focus shifted to the origins of a vintage Colt .45 revolver and the perplexing question of how live bullets found their way onto the set of “Rust.” Baldwin, a renowned actor, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter following the tragic shooting of Halyna Hutchins, the film’s cinematographer, in October 2021. Prosecutors argue that Baldwin negligently fired the weapon while preparing for a scene, a claim Baldwin vehemently denies.
The central question: how did live bullets get to the set?
Baldwin’s defense team has consistently argued that the real issue lies not in Baldwin’s handling of the gun but in how six live bullets, including the fatal one, ended up on the set. Alessandro Pietta, the manufacturer of the gun, traveled from Italy to testify about his company’s stringent quality control measures. Under questioning from prosecutor Erlinda Johnson, Pietta confirmed that the gun would not fire without a pull of the trigger.
“You want to release the hammer, you have to pull the trigger,” Pietta stated in his accented English, adding a layer of complexity to the case.
The journey of the gun
The gun, imported from Italy in 2017, had been displayed at industry trade shows for several years before being sold to Seth Kenney, the supplier of guns and dummy ammunition for “Rust.” Baldwin’s defense team used their cross-examination of a crime scene technician to argue that investigators did not thoroughly investigate whether Kenney might have accidentally supplied the live bullets. The prosecution, however, has maintained that there is no evidence linking Kenney to the live rounds.
A convoluted testimony
Thursday’s testimony was intricate, with lawyers presenting photos of live and dummy rounds, urging jurors to note minute differences in size, shape, and coloring. Amidst the detailed examination, a new revelation emerged. Alex Spiro, Baldwin’s lead defense lawyer, questioned technician Marissa Poppell about a “Good Samaritan” who recently came forward with rounds he claimed matched the fatal bullet. Former police officer Troy Teske had turned in these bullets to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the trial of armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed in March.
Spiro alleged that investigators had failed to disclose this crucial information to the defense, accusing them of burying it. Poppell, however, maintained that she had documented the disclosure and that it was not her responsibility to provide discovery to the defense. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey countered that the bullets were not a match for the fatal round.
The defense’s argument
Jason Bowles, Gutierrez Reed’s lawyer, insisted that the bullets did match and substantiated a link between Kenney and the live rounds. “This is what I had been trying to tell the state, screaming it for years now,” Bowles said. “Shocking these weren’t tested nor even submitted into ‘Rust’ case evidence.”
Spiro suggested that investigators had delayed searching Kenney’s business for over a month and then conducted a cursory search. “Isn’t the truth that you were just trying to get this over with, so prosecutors could focus on Alec Baldwin?” Spiro asked, to which Poppell replied, “No.”
The script and the scene
During cross-examination, Spiro presented jurors with a photo of Hutchins’ copy of the film’s script, found on the floor of the church where she was shot. A line in the script — “Rust’s Colt COCKED quietly now” — indicated that Baldwin’s character was supposed to cock his gun during the scene they were filming. A shot list also included “Macro on hammer as thumb cocks it.” The prosecution argued in its opening statement that Baldwin went “off script” during the fatal incident, while Spiro seemed to be making the point that Baldwin was following the script’s requirements.
Reflecting on the trial
As the trial progresses, the courtroom drama continues to unfold, with each testimony adding new layers to the complex narrative. The central question remains: how did live bullets find their way onto the set of “Rust”? The answer to this question could significantly impact the outcome of the trial and the future of safety protocols in the film industry.
For those interested in delving deeper into the details of the case, the trailer and information sheet for “Rust” can be found here: https://trailers.movieetv.com/search/rust.
The trial of Alec Baldwin is far from over, and as new evidence and testimonies emerge, the quest for truth continues. The courtroom remains a stage where the lines between reality and performance blur, leaving us to ponder the intricate dance of justice and accountability.
