Rust armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, will continue her stay in jail after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the tragic shooting of Halyna Hutchins, following a two-week-long trial.
Key Takeaways:
– Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the Halyna Hutchins shooting case.
– Following a two-week trial, the judge denies motion for new trial and release from jail ahead of sentencing.
– Gutierrez-Reed faces 18 months of imprisonment and $5000 in fines; sentencing expected on April 15th.
– Prosecutor labeled the incident as negligence, accusing Gutierrez-Reed of letting live rounds onto the film set.
– Alec Baldwin, who held the gun during the incident, faces his own trial for involuntary manslaughter in July.
No Early Release or New Trial
In the wake of the film set accident, Gutierrez-Reed’s legal team filed motions for her release prior to sentencing and a new trial. However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer rejected these requests in a virtual hearing. The Judge reminded all parties that a life was lost due to the armorer’s negligence, justifying her decision not to release Gutierrez-Reed. The decision for a new trial was also denied, reinforcing the guilty verdict.
Gutierrez-Reed is staring down the barrel of up to 18 months in jail and is likely to face hefty fines of up to $5000. The final verdict will be decided on April 15th.
Live Rounds on Set of ‘Rust’: Prosecutor’s Address
The fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injury to director Joel Souza occurred when a live round was discharged from a revolver handled by actor Alec Baldwin during the filming of Rust. The prosecution has mentioned Gutierrez-Reed’s negligence as the root cause behind the accident and blames her for letting six live rounds onto the movie set. The situation remained unchecked for 12 days, according to special prosecutor Kari Morrissey.
Morrissey has argued that Gutierrez-Reed has failed to ensure the safe use of dummy ammunition during filming. She claimed that without proper checks, the set transformed into a risky environment. In her words, “this was a game of Russian roulette every time an actor had a gun with dummies.”
Alec Baldwin to Face His Own Trial
Alec Baldwin, well-known for his roles in Hollywood, is also implicated in this incident, facing his own charges of involuntary manslaughter. His trial is currently scheduled for July. The actor’s conduct on the day of the incident and his alleged lack of gun safety is something Baldwin will need to answer for in court. Baldwin, however, has pleaded not guilty and consistently maintained that he did not personally pull the trigger that led to the fatal incident.
As the legal proceedings continue to play out, the tragic loss of Halyna Hutchins and the safety procedures – or lack thereof – on movie sets will continue to be a talking point. Filmmakers and crew members will be hoping for a thorough investigation and meaningful reforms to prevent such a horrifying event from ever happening again.
