Prosecutors within the “Rust” case are accusing the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed of “doubtless” being hung over when she loaded the gun with the bullet that finally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, one thing her legal professionals have known as “character assassination.”
Whereas fees towards “Rust” star Alec Baldwin have been dismissed, Gutierrez-Reed stays charged with a rely of involuntary manslaughter within the “Rust” case. And on Friday, June 9, prosecutors in New Mexico responded to her lawyer’s movement to dismiss these fees.
The particular prosecutors of their response wrote off the movement as “laughable” but in addition revealed that they may have witness testimony that Gutierrez-Reed was ingesting and smoking within the evenings main as much as the “Rust” taking pictures.
“Witnesses within the present case will testify that Defendant Gutierrez was ingesting closely and smoking marijuana within the evenings throughout the taking pictures of ‘Rust.’ It’s doubtless that Defendant Gutierrez was hung over when she inserted a reside bullet right into a gun that she knew was going for use sooner or later by an actor whereas filming a taking pictures scene with different actors and crew members,” particular prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis stated. “The crime of involuntary manslaughter was designed particularly for this kind of circumstance. Defendant Gutierrez has a historical past of reckless conduct that has resulted in lack of human life and it’s within the public curiosity that she lastly be held accountable.”
In an announcement to IndieWire in response, lawyer Jason Bowles stated, “The prosecution has so mishandled this case and the case is so weak that they’re now resorting to character assassination ways to additional taint the jury pool. This investigation and prosecution has not been about searching for Justice; for them it’s been about discovering a handy scapegoat.”
Marijuana use became legal in New Mexico in June 2021 forward of the “Rust” incident in October 2021, although some employers are permitted to forbid it.
A preliminary listening to for Gutierrez-Reed is scheduled between August 9-16, at which level a choose will decide if there’s possible trigger for the case towards Gutierrez-Reed to proceed. Gutierrez-Reed was charged on January 31.
The response from the particular prosecutors additionally mentions that they’ll make a last choice about whether or not to deliver any new fees towards Baldwin throughout the subsequent 60 days. The involuntary manslaughter fees introduced towards him have been dropped back in April.
The “Rust” case has gone via some upheaval since Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have been first charged, together with each the unique particular prosecutor and the state’s district lawyer stepping down from the case, and with prosecutors needing to revise and downgrade the involuntary manslaughter fees introduced towards each Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed. In the meantime, filming resumed on “Rust” again on April 21 in Montana, with Baldwin returning to the starring position. Gutierrez-Reed was not concerned within the restarted manufacturing.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on October 21, 2021 when a gun held by Baldwin and carrying a reside spherical discharged, fatally wounding Hutchins and injuring the movie’s director Joel Souza.
