A juror from Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial slammed the proceedings as “ridiculous” — and mentioned it was clear the prosecutors simply wished responsible somebody for the “Rust” set taking pictures that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
The case towards Baldwin, 66, abruptly ended on July 12 when the choose dismissed the costs as a result of indications that the prosecution withheld essential proof from his protection workforce.
However even earlier than the choose’s bombshell transfer, juror Martina Marquez felt just like the prison rigamarole was “pointless,” she informed Folks.
“It didn’t have to go this far,” she mentioned.
Although Marquez, 36, was “open-minded to listening to the details of the case,” she rapidly surmised that the “case gave the impression to be mishandled from the get-go.”
Hutchins, 42, was killed when a prop gun Baldwin was dealing with discharged a reside spherical on the set of “Rust” on Oct. 21, 2021.
After initially dodging his first indictment, the “30 Rock” star was hit with one cost of involuntary manslaughter in January.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors accused the actor of flouting gun security rules and behaving recklessly with the prop firearms.
Because the jury appeared on the proof, nevertheless, Marquez grew to become extra satisfied that the taking pictures was “an unlucky accident.”
“Simply ranging from the lapel cam movies, it didn’t make sense how they might level fingers immediately in the direction of him as a complete,” the oncology scheduler informed Folks, noting that there have been dozens of individuals on the set within the aftermath of the incident.
Physique digital camera footage from Timoteo Benavidez, a lieutenant with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Workplace, confirmed the cop looking for the prop gun, which was then handed to him by armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, Marquez defined.
“It didn’t make sense,” she continued. “All of us watch TV and we watch motion pictures. You’re not supposed to actually contact proof and transfer it from place to put. In order that made me iffy in regards to the scenario as a result of it might have been in so many individuals’s fingers by the point the lieutenant really confiscated it.”
In gentle of the proof, Marquez felt the indictment towards Baldwin was “a bit of harsh,” and advised that he was focused for being a celeb.
“I really feel like they wanted to pin [the death] on any individual,” she mentioned of the prosecutors.
Marquez added that she felt Gutierrez-Reed — who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March and is now serving 18 months in jail — was “accountable for what occurred” to Hutchins.
Though the jurors have been banned from discussing the case amongst themselves, it appeared like they “have been all on the identical web page” about Baldwin’s involvement earlier than the case was dismissed, she informed the journal.
Alec Baldwin broke down in sobs when Choose Mary Marlow Sommer tossed the costs after ruling that the equity of the proceedings had been compromised.
The “Blue Jasmine” star — who’s at the moment filming a TLC actuality present together with his spouse, Hilaria, and 7 younger children — thanked his supporters for his or her “kindness.”
A spokesperson for Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, mentioned the grieving household “respects” the choose’s choice, however vowed to carry Baldwin “accountable” for the on-set tragedy.
Hutchins’ dad and mom and sister — who adopted the trial from their dwelling in Ukraine — known as the dropped prices a “devastating blow.”
“It doesn’t change the truth that Alec Baldwin killed Halyna Hutchins on the set of ‘Rust.’ It doesn’t change the truth that he fired a loaded gun whereas pointing it at a human being,” lawyer Gloria Allred mentioned on her family members’ behalf.
