UPDATE: Damaging Testimony Emerges In Alec Baldwin Manslaughter Case

Damning testimony has emerged as part of the pre-trial testimony in the Alec Baldwin manslaughter case.

On October 21, 2021, Baldwin reportedly discharged a firearm during a rehearsal session for the film “Rust,” killing Halyna Hutchins and injuring one other individual.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the professional armorer for the film set, is also being tried alongside Baldwin.

During her testimony to the OSHB, Guiterrez-Reed claimed that Baldwin did not take the firearm safety courses she held for the actors very seriously.

Guiterrez-Reed described a distracted and uninterested Baldwin, who was one of the actors working with firearms the most on the set of the film.

Baldwin has previously pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Gutierrez-Reed’s trial started on Wednesday, KSL reports:

“The trial of “Rust” chief weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez-Reed over the death of the film’s cinematographer starts today, in a case likely to shape actor Alec Baldwin’s defense of his role in Hollywood’s first on-set shooting fatality in nearly 30 years.”

The trial of "Rust" chief weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez-Reed over the death of the film's cinematographer starts today, in a case likely to shape actor Alec Baldwin's defense of his role in Hollywood's first on-set shooting fatality in nearly 30 years. https://t.co/bhgke1pyyM

— KSL (@KSLcom) February 21, 2024

According to Hollywood Reporter:

Gutierrez-Reed testified to the OSHB. She said that Baldwin spent much of the planned session on his phone texting, FaceTiming his wife and children, and having his assistant shoot video of him with the gun for Instagram.

After the session, Gutierrez-Reed said she requested the producers grant her more training time, “Particularly with Alec, just because his role is so gun-heavy, and I wanted to make sure he was familiar with his weapon,” Gutierrez-Reed testified.

“I told them that he needed more time to practice his cross draw because I didn’t want him to have complications with it on filming day.” (She didn’t get the time.)

Here’s the latest on Baldwin’s trial, which is widely expected to begin during the summer of 2024—sometime around June or July.

Jury Selection begins today on Alec Baldwin's Armorer's involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence charges in the 'Rust' shooting. pic.twitter.com/ZgvhukM0pP

— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 21, 2024

Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Fatal Shooting Trial Likely To Start This Summer; Actor/Producer Facing Involuntary Manslaughter Charges, Jail Time https://t.co/oZTXztz06e

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 20, 2024

Armorer Hannah Guiterrez-Reed faces a jury Wednesday ahead of a potential summer trial for Alec Baldwin in the ‘Rust’ tragedy. “If I were defending Baldwin, it would be a gift from God,” one veteran attorney said. https://t.co/SKo8waIRHc

— Vulture (@vulture) February 20, 2024

USA Today reports:

Baldwin, 65, was charged with involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 19, 2023, but those charges were dropped three months later after prosecutors said they wanted more time to examine evidence.

Baldwin was charged again exactly one year later, on Jan. 19, 2024.

The refiled charges stemmed in part from new evidence showing the gun’s trigger had to have been pulled in order to fire the bullet that killed Hutchins. Baldwin had said he never pulled the trigger.