Manslaughter Trial Against RUST’s Armorer Begins
By Movieguide® Contributor
Opening statements of the involuntary manslaughter case against RUST’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed occurred at the end of last week, citing her sloppiness as the reason for the accident.
“The defendant treated the safety protocols as if they were optional rather than if people’s lives counted on her doing her job correctly,” prosecutor Jason Lewis said in his opening statement. “By failing to make those vital safety checks, the defendant acted negligently and without due caution. The decision she made that day contributed to Ms. Hutchins’ death.”
The movie’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was killed when Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun that he was given during the blocking of a scene in October 2021. The movie’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured during the accident, receiving a bullet to the shoulder.
NBC reported, “The case centers on how a live round of ammunition found its way onto the film’s set and into the gun held by Baldwin. Although Baldwin maintains he did not pull the trigger, the gun fired a bullet.”
Gutierrez-Reed’s argument leading up to the trial has been that she became a scapegoat for the production, which spread her too thin and did not give her adequate time to perform her duties as the movie’s armorer.
“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,” said Gutierrez-Reed’s defense attorney, Jason Bowles. “Why? Because she’s an easy target. She’s the least powerful person on set.”
The defense has also cited an email Gutierrez-Reed sent before the shooting where she asked for more time for her work as an armorer but was denied. The defense, instead, places the blame on the production, specifically Alec Baldwin, who both starred in and produced the movie.
Baldwin faces similar manslaughter charges following the release of new evidence against him. His case is expected to go to trial this summer.
Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin both face counts of involuntary manslaughter, which could lead to up to three years of prison time.
Movieguide® previously reported:
While charges against Alec Baldwin for his involvement in the deadly RUST shooting were dropped last spring, prosecutors have reopened the case with new evidence against the actor, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Baldwin entered a not-guilty plea to the New Mexico court last Thursday, waiving his virtual appearance scheduled for later that morning. He was not arrested and, under the rules of his parole, is not permitted to possess any firearm, leave the country or communicate with anyone who may testify in the case.
The actor and his legal team maintain that he was unaware that the gun was loaded with live munitions, nor is he liable for checking the gun.
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