The first week of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's criminal trial was marked by a series of emotional testimonies from witnesses who were on set when the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins occurred. The trial, taking place in a courthouse in New Mexico, centers on how a live round of ammunition ended up in the prop gun that actor Alec Baldwin was holding on October 21, 2021.

Dave Halls, the film's first assistant director, who handed the gun to Baldwin that fired the fatal shot, was among the witnesses who took the stand. Halls, who has struck a plea bargain, tearfully admitted that he believed he was ultimately to blame for the tragic incident as he did not do a final check on the gun before handing it to Baldwin.

Joel Souza, the director and screenwriter of "Rust," also testified about the moment he was shot on set. He described the chaotic scene that unfolded after the loud bang, recalling how he saw Hutchins being lowered to the ground and the confusion that followed. Souza testified that he did not initially realize he had been shot and struggled to comprehend the situation, insisting that live rounds were not possible on a movie set.

The prosecution alleges that Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for firearms safety on set, was sloppy and left weapons unsecured, leading to the tragic shooting. Witnesses described a chaotic environment on set where safety was considered secondary before the incident occurred. Gutierrez-Reed has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering, facing three years in prison. She has pleaded not guilty.

The trial has raised questions about who is ultimately responsible for the shooting, with the prosecution pointing to Gutierrez-Reed's failure to implement proper safety checks, while the defense argues that she was given an unreasonable number of responsibilities and the production team fostered a chaotic environment. Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin, who has also pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges, are at the center of the trial that is expected to have major implications for the film industry.