A New Mexico judge has upheld the involuntary manslaughter conviction of movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of Alec Baldwin’s film “Rust.” Gutierrez-Reed had requested a new trial, alleging that prosecutors withheld evidence that could have cleared her, but the judge found no grounds for a retrial.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer also denied Gutierrez-Reed’s request to be released from custody, stating that it was moot since the new trial request was denied. The conviction stems from the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, where Baldwin accidentally fired a gun during a rehearsal, killing Hutchins.
Despite Gutierrez-Reed’s appeal of the conviction, jurors found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter for bringing live ammunition onto the set and failing to follow gun safety protocols. The evidence that Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys claimed prosecutors withheld included reports from firearms experts and interviews with key witnesses.
The defense attorneys have not yet commented on the judge’s decision. Gutierrez-Reed also faces a separate felony charge for carrying a gun into a bar. A proposed plea agreement is pending court review.
Overall, the case highlights the complexities and consequences of on-set safety in the film industry.
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