22 February 2024 , 20:26
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Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed mixed live bullets up with blanks, the prosecution said during her trial Thursday.
The trial of the Rust film's armorer has begun, following the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin on set. Prosecutors opened the case by describing the movie weapons supervisor as careless and neglectful in her handling of guns and ammunition, ignoring basic safety rules
Before Baldwin's case can move forward, the weapons supervisor is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence related to Hutchins' death on 21st October 2021, during a rehearsal at a movie ranch near Santa Fe.
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Gutierrez-Reed has plead not guilty (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, stating she's not directly responsible for Hutchins' death.
Alec Baldwin accused of 'wilful disregard for others' safety' before Rust death
Prosecutors plan to show that Gutierrez-Reed unknowingly brought live ammunition onto the film set where it was strictly forbidden. They argue that she missed several chances to ensure safety, eventually loading a live round into the gun that killed Hutchins and twice failing to properly check if the rounds were live or dummy.
"We will show you, ladies and gentlemen, that by failing to make those vital safety checks, the defendant acted negligently and without due caution," special prosecutor Jason Lewis told the jury. "And the decisions that she made that day ultimately contributed to Ms. Hutchins death."
In court, Jason Bowles, the main defence lawyer, highlighted findings by workplace safety regulators of widespread issues that went beyond the control of his client, the armorer. He said she was being rushed, had to do two jobs and her requests for more help were ignored by her boss.
"What they've tried to do, and what you're seeing in this courtroom today, is trying to blame it all on Hannah, a 24-year-old. Why? Because she's an easy target, she's the least powerful person on that set," he told the jury.
Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in a different case.
The incident occurred on October 21 when Halyna was fatally shot on set. They were both initially charged with gun enhancement charges, which were dropped in February 2023. The remainder of Baldwin's charges were dropped in 2023.
However, he was charged once again for involuntary manslaughter in January.