Ruling Denies Convicted Rust Armorer Immunity to Testify at Alec Baldwin’s Trial
A judge has ruled that a convicted armorer from the film set Rust will not be granted immunity to testify at Alec Baldwin’s trial for involuntary manslaughter related to the fatal shooting of a cinematographer. The incident occurred during rehearsals on the New Mexico set of the movie in 2021.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Sentenced in April
In April, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to jail for her involvement in the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who tragically lost her life during the incident on set. Baldwin, who was handling a prop gun, accidentally discharged the firearm while it was pointed at Hutchins, resulting in her death and injuries to director Joel Souza.
The prosecution had sought to provide immunity to Gutierrez-Reed, the chief weapons supervisor on Rust, in exchange for her testimony. However, her request was denied by the judge, as it was clear she would not cooperate due to ongoing legal matters she is involved in.
Legal Challenges Remain for Gutierrez-Reed
Gutierrez-Reed faces an appeal against her 18-month imprisonment for involuntary manslaughter and another weapons-related case. Her refusal to incriminate herself has complicated the legal proceedings surrounding the fatal shooting.
During the incident, Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of criminal negligence for loading a live round into the prop gun used by Baldwin, leading to the tragic outcome.
Legal Proceedings Ahead
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey has hinted at calling Gutierrez-Reed as a key witness in Baldwin’s upcoming trial, despite the immunity setback. The Judge indicated that Gutierrez-Reed’s right to remain silent would likely prevail, making it difficult to compel her to testify.
Baldwin, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of involuntary manslaughter and will continue to face legal scrutiny over the incident. Prosecutors aim to demonstrate Baldwin’s alleged negligence in handling the prop gun that led to the tragic outcome on the Rust set.
In the ongoing legal battle, the involvement and testimony of key witnesses like Gutierrez-Reed are crucial to understanding the events leading up to the unfortunate shooting on the Rust film set.
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