Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin has made his way to a courthouse in Santa Fe, where he is set to stand trial for the shooting incident that took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie "Rust." The tragic event occurred almost three years ago during a rehearsal of a shooting scene in the western film, when a prop gun held by Baldwin went off, resulting in Hutchins' death and the injury of director Joel Souza.

Baldwin, aged 66, has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming that he did not deliberately pull the trigger and was unaware that the firearm contained a live round. He faces a single charge of involuntary manslaughter, a felony, in relation to the incident that took place in October 2021. If convicted, Baldwin could potentially face a sentence of up to 18 months in prison.

During a pre-trial hearing on Monday, the judge ruled that Baldwin's role as a co-producer on the movie is not relevant to the case. With this decision, jury selection has begun in Santa Fe, New Mexico, indicating that the highly-anticipated trial is underway. Opening statements are expected to commence on Wednesday, giving both the prosecution and defense an opportunity to present their arguments.

It is worth noting that Baldwin's trial follows the conviction of the movie's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in April. Gutierrez-Reed received the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison for her role in the tragic incident.

As the trial progresses, all eyes are on the proceedings, with the case highlighting the importance of safety measures on film sets and raising questions about accountability in such situations. The outcome of Baldwin's trial will undoubtedly have significant implications for both the entertainment industry and the broader conversation surrounding firearm safety on film sets.