Nearly three years after the tragic shooting incident on the set of the film "Rust," actor Alec Baldwin is set to face trial for involuntary manslaughter. The incident resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured the film's director, Joel Souza. Jury selection for Baldwin's criminal trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

Baldwin has consistently maintained in multiple interviews that he did not pull the trigger and that the gun misfired a bullet. He stated that he was following directions from Hutchins and had only pulled the hammer back without cocking it. However, in 2022, FBI testing revealed that the .45-caliber Colt prop revolver would not have fired without the trigger being pulled.

Baldwin's attorneys recently filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that the firearm had been significantly damaged during testing at the FBI lab. However, the motion was denied by the judge. Initially, Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter and a firearm enhancement charge, but the firearm enhancement charge was later dropped, reducing his potential prison sentence by five years.

The case faced several challenges along the way. In March 2023, special prosecutor Andrea Reed stepped down due to her disqualification under state law, being a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies also resigned from the case and appointed special prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason Lewis to lead the investigation.

In April of the same year, the charges against Baldwin were dismissed by the prosecutors, citing the discovery of new facts that warranted further investigation. However, the dismissal did not absolve Baldwin of criminal culpability, and the possibility of refiling charges remained open. Over the next few months, Morrissey and Lewis continued to examine evidence and interview witnesses.

In October 2023, two sources informed NBC News that Baldwin and the special prosecutors had discussed a potential plea deal, but it was ultimately rescinded. The prosecutors then decided to present Baldwin's case before a grand jury. Three months later, Baldwin was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on one count of involuntary manslaughter.

Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, responded to the indictment, expressing their readiness to present their case in court. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. It is worth noting that the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for overseeing the weapons on set, has already been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence in a separate trial.

Meanwhile, Dave Halls, the assistant director on set, is expected to testify during Baldwin's trial. Halls previously pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a six-month unsupervised probation. Prosecutors have accused Baldwin of offering conflicting versions of events to law enforcement and the media regarding whether he pulled the trigger and his level of involvement with Hutchins.

The trial will shed further light on the events that led to the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins and the injuries sustained by Joel Souza. As Baldwin's trial gets underway, the focus will shift onto the courtroom, where evidence and testimony will be presented to determine his legal culpability.