A judge is set to hear arguments in court regarding the potential dismissal of a criminal conviction against a movie armorer involved in the tragic shooting incident on the set of the film 'Rust.' The armorer, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March, is seeking a retrial or dismissal based on claims that prosecutors withheld crucial evidence, including ammunition that could have been exculpatory.
The judge is reconsidering the conviction following a decision to dismiss a similar case against actor Alec Baldwin, who was also implicated in the shooting incident. The armorer, who is currently serving an 18-month sentence, has appealed the guilty verdict and is awaiting a ruling from a state appeals court.
Prosecutors have alleged that the armorer was responsible for bringing live ammunition onto the set and failing to adhere to proper gun safety protocols. Despite being acquitted of evidence tampering charges related to the 'Rust' investigation, the armorer is facing a separate felony charge for allegedly carrying a gun into a prohibited area.
The shooting incident occurred during a rehearsal on a movie ranch outside Santa Fe in 2021, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza. Baldwin, who was handling the firearm at the time, has maintained that he did not pull the trigger intentionally.
The armorer's defense team has argued that prosecutors failed to disclose key information from pretrial interviews with individuals involved in the case, which could have impacted the outcome of the trial. The judge will review the evidence presented and make a decision regarding the armorer's conviction.
