Jurors Doubt Alec Baldwin's Guilt in "Rust" Case

In a surprising twist to the highly publicized Alec Baldwin trial, two jurors who were part of the panel that was deliberating his involuntary manslaughter case have come forward to reveal that they had doubts about his guilt even before the judge threw out the charges due to the prosecution's mishandling of evidence. The case, which revolved around the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," had captivated the nation for over two years. However, the testimonies of Johanna Haag and Gabriela Picayo, identified as juror No. 7 and juror No. 9 respectively, shed light on the internal deliberations that were taking place before the trial came to an abrupt end. Haag, speaking in a phone interview, expressed that as the trial progressed, the case against Baldwin did not appear particularly strong in her eyes. Picayo also admitted to harboring significant doubts about the prosecution's arguments, especially upon learning about the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's, prior conviction of involuntary manslaughter. "I'm still here, I'm still open to hearing and obviously trying to stay unbiased," Picayo shared, "but I was starting to move towards the direction of thinking that this was very silly and he should not be on trial." The trial's focal point was the events of October 21, 2021, when Baldwin, under the impression that the gun he was handling contained no live ammunition, inadvertently fired a bullet that tragically took Hutchins' life. The revelations from these jurors have added another layer of complexity to an already convoluted case, leaving many questioning the handling of the trial and the initial charges brought against Baldwin. As the legal proceedings continue to evolve, the public remains eager for further insight into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident on the film set of "Rust."