Judge upholds guilty verdict against “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed

Court denies new trial request

In a significant ruling on Monday, a judge upheld the guilty verdict against Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer for the film “Rust.” The defense’s request for a new trial was denied, with the judge determining that the withheld evidence would not have altered the trial’s outcome.

Defense’s argument for a new trial

The defense team argued that the prosecution had failed to disclose critical evidence, including a forensic report and an interview with weapons supplier Seth Kenney. They contended that this oversight compromised the fairness of the trial.

However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stated in her opinion, “Defendant has not established that there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been available to Defendant, the evidence would have produced a different verdict.”

The trial and the charges

Gutierrez Reed is currently serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter in the tragic death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. During the trial in Santa Fe in February, the prosecution argued that Gutierrez Reed had mishandled weapons on the set and failed to detect a live bullet before loading it into Alec Baldwin’s gun.

The gun discharged during preparation for a scene, resulting in Hutchins’ death and wounding director Joel Souza. Alec Baldwin was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, but his case was dismissed midway through the trial in July after the defense demonstrated that the prosecution had failed to turn over a cache of bullets.

Prosecution’s handling of evidence

Gutierrez Reed’s defense team hoped to leverage the same argument that led to Baldwin’s case dismissal. They claimed that prosecutor Kari Morrissey exhibited a similar lack of diligence in her discovery obligations during Gutierrez Reed’s trial by not disclosing an expert’s report showing “unexplained toolmarks” on Baldwin’s gun.

However, the judge noted that the expert concluded the toolmarks had no bearing on the firearm’s operation and, therefore, likely would not have affected the trial’s outcome.

Judge’s ruling on withheld evidence

Judge Marlowe Sommer agreed with the prosecution’s position that Kenney’s interview was redundant, as it duplicated other statements he had given. Additionally, the judge ruled that the cache of bullets that led to Baldwin’s case dismissal had been available to Gutierrez Reed, thus she was not entitled to a new trial.

Ongoing legal battles

Despite this setback, Gutierrez Reed is still pursuing an appeal on several other grounds, including an argument that the jury instructions were faulty. Meanwhile, prosecutor Kari Morrissey is seeking to revive the case against Baldwin, arguing that the judge was misled by the defense into believing that the withheld bullets were relevant to his case.

Industry implications

The “Rust” incident has sparked widespread discussions about safety protocols on film sets, particularly concerning the handling of firearms. Industry experts are calling for stricter regulations and more comprehensive training for crew members involved in managing weapons.

The tragic event has also led to a reevaluation of insurance policies and liability issues in the film industry. Production companies are now more vigilant in ensuring that all safety measures are meticulously followed to prevent such incidents in the future.

Conclusion

The ruling against Hannah Gutierrez Reed underscores the complexities and challenges of legal proceedings in high-profile cases. As the appeals process continues, the film industry must grapple with the broader implications of this tragedy and work towards creating safer working environments for all involved.

Did you enjoy this article? Share it on your social channels and let us know your thoughts!

Don’t miss out on the latest updates! Follow us on social media to stay informed about the newest releases.