During the tragic incident on October 21, 2021, Alec Baldwin was holding a Pietta 45 Colt revolver when cinematographer Halyan Hutchins was fatally shot. The gun's manufacturer, Alessandro Pietta, provided crucial testimony in court on Thursday, contradicting Baldwin's assertion that he did not pull the trigger of the firearm.
Pietta emphasized to the jury that in order to release the hammer of the revolver, one must indeed pull the trigger. This statement sheds light on the mechanics of the weapon and raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Furthermore, Pietta highlighted a key detail regarding the replica revolver - only five rounds should have been loaded into the gun to ensure that the firing pin did not rest on a round. This information is significant as it pertains to the safety protocols that should have been followed on the film set.
Crime scene technician Marissa Poppell also provided crucial testimony, revealing that five live rounds were discovered in various locations on the 'Rust' film set during the investigation. The bullets were found scattered across the prop cart, mixed in with a box of dummy ammunition, and located in two prop gun holsters.
These revelations from both the gun manufacturer and the crime scene technician offer valuable insights into the events leading up to the tragic shooting. As the investigation continues, the testimonies presented in court serve to piece together the sequence of events and shed light on the safety measures that may have been overlooked on the film set.