Who is Kari Morrissey, the special prosecutor in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial?

The involuntary manslaughter trial against actor Alec Baldwin started on Tuesday, July 9. Special prosecutors from New Mexico presented the case to a grand jury in Santa Fe, aiming to establish probable cause to charge Baldwin with criminal offenses related to the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film ‘Rust’.

See also: Baldwin case dismissed with prejudice

Hutchins died on October 21, 2021, after being accidentally shot by the 65-year-old actor. According to reports, Baldwin was rehearsing an action scene with a prop gun when he aimed directly at the cinematographer, who was overseeing the scene from behind the camera. The gun was loaded with a live round, and Hutchins died almost instantly.

Baldwin maintains that he pulled back the hammer of the gun but did not pull the trigger; he also accused the crew of negligence for handing him a gun loaded with live ammunition. However, special prosecutors, led by Kari Morrissey, have charged the actor with involuntary manslaughter for his role in the cinematographer’s death.

Who is Kari Morrissey, the special prosecutor in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial?

Morrissey, a graduate of the University of New Mexico, is the special prosecutor leading the case against Alec Baldwin. According to the Associated Press, Morrissey has been practicing law for over two decades and is currently one of the leading attorneys in Albuquerque. Her main areas of focus include criminal defense and civil rights.

Kari Morrissey also served as a special prosecutor in the case of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film, who was also charged with involuntary manslaughter for failing to check the gun before handing it to Baldwin. Hannah was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Morrissey is joined by her colleague, Erlinda Johnson, who is also one of the special prosecutors facing Baldwin’s legal team. Baldwin’s defense is led by renowned celebrity attorney, Alex Spiro.

The Alec Baldwin case is expected to last 10 days. If found guilty, the actor could face up to 18 months in prison and a substantial fine.