Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe is worn out for tourists coming on vacation. But now it is not so.
Alec Stanley Baldwin arrives in town on this date for the beginning of his involuntary manslaughter trial, and now he is not getting a warm welcome from the fresh Mexicans.
As the lawyers were making opening statements, a small crowd of local spectators came outside the court. Stanley Baldwin, 66, is accused of accidentally firing a live gun on the stage of the western “Rust” – killing cinematographer Halina Hutchins, 42, and injuring director Joel Souza – in October 2021.
Background Actor Janelle Rogers and a friend held signs that read, on one side, “Justice for Helena” and on the other, “Safety on Set!” Absolutely necessary! No excuse!!”
Rogers, an Albuquerque resident who once appeared on “Better Call Saul,” criticized the industry, saying, “There is no safety on the set.”
“No matter who you are or where you are, safety on set is extremely important,” Rogers said. “Halina Hutchins shouldn’t have died.”
Rogers said he has a friend who worked as a reman on “Rust” and believes a group of family members must have messed up to allow the shooting to happen.
“I blame a lot of people for his death. This is a lot of people. Just because you’re an actor or a producer doesn’t mean you’re exempt,” Rogers said.
He also criticized the “30 Rock” superstar for creating “The Baldwins” a reality TV show with wife Hilaria Stanley Baldwin and their seven children, which is set to premiere on TLC 12 months later.
“It’s a joke,” Rogers said of the performance. “I think he’s doing it for a publicity stunt.”
Hilaria and Stanley Baldwin brought their child to court Tuesday for jury selection, but neither child appeared in court Wednesday.
Rogers noted, “I think it’s absolutely bizarre and then he comes here with his wife and kid.” “He has no business being here. I think this is a huge publicity stunt for him.”
“It’s arrogant, it’s arrogant. We saw that when he played Trump,” Rogers said of Stanley Baldwin’s usual role on “Saturday Night Live,” imitating the former president.
He played that role with ease. Why so? The attitude of ‘I am above everyone else’. Disease immunity. Exception.”
Rachel Jarrell, 32, was the first to wait for trial next Wednesday on one life from her residence in Rio Rancho, NM.
Jarrell, a stay-at-home mother of two, said she had followed him closely during a separate trial against “Rusty” novice armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reid – who was then sentenced to 18 months behind bars. Once found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March.
“I looked at the Gutierrez case,” Jarrell said. “(I’m) very excited that this happened in my home state. (I) traveled for about an hour to reach here.”
Jarrell noted that she is a supporter of stricter gun safety regulations and said she wants justice for Hutchins.
As for the Baldwins’ after-the-fact performance, Jarrell noted: “I think it was wild to capitalize on a tragedy for fame. I thought it was sad.”
“I would say Halina’s death is a tragedy. To turn that wave into a reality show,” she added.
Frank Winberly, 81, a Santa Fe resident, said he did not believe Stanley Baldwin’s claims in the media after Hutchins’ death that he did not fire his .45-caliber Copy Colt revolver.
“The hammer won’t drop unless you pull the trigger,” Winberly said. “I think he pulled the trigger.”
Stanley Baldwin’s attorney Alex Spiro said Wednesday morning that his client “intentionally” did not disclose the reason — an apparent attempt to back away from Stanley Baldwin’s earlier denial.
Spiro said that Gutierrez-Reed and others who were responsible for the secret use of guns during filming should be blamed for Hutchins’ death. Spiro said that Stanley Baldwin was merely doing his job when he fired the gun, which was never intended to involve a live round.
However, prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo argued throughout her opening that Stanley Baldwin “played fantasy games with a real gun” and violated gun safety laws, contributing to this tragic tragedy.
Hilaria and Stanley Baldwin’s brother Stephen Stanley Baldwin sat a few rows behind the embattled actor in the court gallery during Wednesday’s hearing.
Alec and Hilaria were given a warm welcome after the court hearing on Wednesday.
At the next departure court, the Baldwins went to buy groceries at a tourist spot in downtown Santa Fe before hitting up a Starbucks. The couple was once seen with their newborn baby.
Alec drove an empty stroller while Hilaria held the slight woman’s hand.
He signed autographs for enthusiasts throughout the espresso store.
“I was going to ask for a selfie for dad, but I didn’t want to do that because he’s going through a hard time,” one woman said, referring to the next departure Starbucks.
“He was a very, very nice person,” said Lucille Roybal of Santa Fe, who was given an autograph addressed to her 2-year-old son, Ocean.
“He was a very sweet guy who took his time to give Ocean his autograph.”
Roybal said: “I don’t think he should be found guilty. No, this is my opinion. I think there should have been people who took care of the guns.
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