In March, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the fatal shooting on the set of the movie 'Rust.' The trial, which commenced on February 21, featured testimonies from various experts, including weapons specialists, FBI agents, Santa Fe County authorities, and crew members who were present during the tragic incident.
The prosecution's case primarily revolved around Gutierrez Reed's alleged negligence in her duties as an armorer, suggesting that she failed to fulfill her responsibilities adequately.
An intriguing aspect of the trial was Gutierrez Reed's defense strategy, which sought to shift some blame onto actor Alec Baldwin, who was also involved in the production of 'Rust.' Gutierrez Reed's legal team attempted to portray Baldwin as having shortcomings in both his responsibilities as a member of the production team and as an actor.
Legal experts, such as Kate Mangels from Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP, noted that this tactic could potentially be used by the prosecution in Baldwin's case to bolster their argument against him. The outcome of Baldwin's legal proceedings may hinge significantly on whether the crew members who testified against Gutierrez Reed provide similar testimonies implicating Baldwin.
