According to Fox News, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer from the "Rust" film set, is requesting immediate release from prison and preparing to seek a new trial.
Her legal team argues that the prosecution withheld new exculpatory evidence, which could have significantly impacted the trial's outcome.
Gutierrez Reed, convicted of involuntary manslaughter, was sentenced to 18 months in prison following the fatal shooting on October 21, 2021, that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Her defense claims the incident was a tragic accident and alleges prosecutorial misconduct for not disclosing critical evidence about the firearm involved.
At the time, Hutchins was setting up a close-up shot and was struck when a gun held by actor Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged. In March, following her conviction, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sentenced Gutierrez Reed to 18 months in prison.
After issuing the sentence, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer made a statement:
I find that what you did constitutes a serious, violent offense. It was committed in a physically violent manner. A fatal gunshot done with your recklessness in the face of knowledge that your acts were reasonably likely to result in serious harm. You were the armorer, the one that's to be between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. You alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal weapon. But for you, Mrs. Hutchins would be alive, a husband would have his partner and a little boy would have his mother.
Gutierrez Reed’s lawyer accused the prosecution of withholding a report on "unexplained toolmarks" found on the trigger and sear of the Pietta 45 Colt revolver replica. This report indicated the marks were not from FBI impact testing, nor were they original manufacturing or use marks, a fact allegedly not disclosed to the defense.
The state allegedly "buried this information" and allowed an expert to perjure himself during cross-examination. The defense argues that this report would have significantly supported their claim that the firearm malfunctioned, leading to the tragic accident.
The defense maintains that no crime was committed and the incident was an accident, with potential negligence on the part of the producers. They argue that a firearm malfunction, as indicated by the undisclosed report, could have been an unforeseeable intervening cause of Hutchins' death.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, who sentenced Gutierrez Reed, called her actions a serious and violent offense, emphasizing the responsibility she held as the armorer to ensure weapon safety on set.
The trial, which began on February 21, featured testimony from weapons experts, FBI, Santa Fe County authorities, and crew members. The prosecution centered its case on Gutierrez Reed's alleged failure to properly perform her duties, suggesting her negligence led to the fatal incident.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer convicted in the "Rust" film set shooting incident, is pushing for her immediate release and a retrial. She claims that the prosecution failed to disclose crucial exculpatory evidence. Specifically, this evidence involves unexplained toolmarks on the firearm, which could potentially alter the outcome of the case.
Her defense maintains that this finding supports their argument that the shooting was a tragic accident resulting from a firearm malfunction rather than negligence. As the legal proceedings continue, the public and the legal community keenly observe the developments in this high-profile case.
