A judge has upheld the guilty verdict against Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer from the film “Rust,” finding that evidence withheld during the trial would not have changed the outcome. On Monday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled against Gutierrez Reed’s request for a new trial, stating that the defense failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability that the withheld evidence would have altered the jury’s verdict.
The defense had argued for a retrial on the grounds that the prosecution did not disclose a crucial forensic report and an interview with weapons supplier Seth Kenney. However, in her opinion, Judge Sommer wrote, “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.”
Gutierrez Reed is currently serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the tragic death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. During the trial in February held in Santa Fe, prosecutors contended that she mishandled weapons on the set, leading to a live bullet being loaded into a gun handled by actor Alec Baldwin. The firearm discharged during preparations for a scene, resulting in Hutchins’ death and injuries to director Joel Souza.
Baldwin also faced involuntary manslaughter charges, but those were dismissed midway through the trial in July. His defense successfully argued that the prosecution had not disclosed a significant cache of bullets relevant to his case.
Gutierrez Reed’s defense team sought to leverage this same argument in her trial. They claimed that prosecutor Kari Morrissey displayed a similar lack of diligence in fulfilling discovery obligations. Specifically, they pointed to the failure to disclose an expert report that identified “unexplained toolmarks” on Baldwin’s gun.
However, Judge Sommer noted that the expert had concluded the toolmarks did not affect the firearm’s operation, suggesting it would not have influenced the trial’s outcome. She affirmed the prosecution’s assertion that Kenney’s interview was largely redundant and added that the bullet cache in Baldwin’s case was available to Gutierrez Reed, negating her grounds for a new trial.
Despite this setback, Gutierrez Reed is continuing to pursue an appeal on various other grounds. One of the main arguments in her appeal includes claims that the jury instructions were flawed, which could potentially influence the outcome of any future proceedings.
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In the meantime, Prosecutor Kari Morrissey is attempting to reinstate charges against Baldwin. She contends that the judge may have been misled by the defense into believing the withheld bullets were crucial to his case, thus affecting the ruling on Baldwin’s charges.
The case has garnered significant media attention, especially given the high-profile nature of the individuals involved and the tragic circumstances surrounding Hutchins’ death. As the legal proceedings continue, the implications for all parties involved remain significant.
Gutierrez Reed’s conviction serves as a reminder of the critical importance of safety on film sets, particularly when it comes to the handling of firearms. The incident has sparked widespread discussions about industry standards and regulations, calling for reforms to ensure the safety of cast and crew members.
