Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film “Rust,” has been denied release from jail while her lawyers appeal her conviction in the death of the film’s cinematographer. The judge cited the jury’s determination that the death was caused by Gutierrez-Reed as the reason for her continued incarceration. She is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15 and faces up to 18 months in prison. Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors alleged that she brought live bullets onto the set and failed to properly check the rounds before loading one into a gun used by Alec Baldwin, who is scheduled to face his own trial in July for involuntary manslaughter.
Following the guilty verdict, Gutierrez-Reed was taken into custody, and her lawyers filed an emergency motion for release based on a recent ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court in another case. The defense argued that the jury instructions in Gutierrez-Reed’s case were confusing, similar to the Taylor case that was recently overturned by the Supreme Court. Prosecutors disagreed, stating that the cases were different in nature. In the Taylor case, the jurors were asked to convict based on four separate acts with an “and/or” clause, which was deemed confusing by the Supreme Court. However, in Gutierrez-Reed’s case, only two acts were separated by the same clause.
The judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, sided with the prosecution, denying the defense’s motion for release. She stated that she did not believe the Taylor case required a new trial in Gutierrez-Reed’s case, and would issue a written order on Monday. Gutierrez-Reed is expected to remain in jail until her sentencing in April. The tragedy on the set of “Rust” has led to legal consequences for both Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin, with both facing charges of involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Despite the defense’s arguments for a new trial based on the New Mexico Supreme Court ruling in the Taylor case, the judge determined that the cases were distinguishable and upheld Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction. The prosecution maintained that Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for the death on set due to her failure to properly check the rounds before loading the gun used by Baldwin. As the legal proceedings continue, the aftermath of the tragedy on the set of “Rust” serves as a reminder of the importance of strict safety protocols in the film industry to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future.
The denial of Gutierrez-Reed’s release pending appeal indicates that the judicial system is taking the case seriously and holding responsible parties accountable for their actions. The tragedy has had far-reaching implications for the film industry, prompting discussions about safety practices on film sets and the need for increased awareness of potential dangers. As Gutierrez-Reed awaits sentencing and continues to appeal her conviction, the legal proceedings surrounding the death of Halyna Hutchins are a stark reminder of the consequences of negligence in the workplace and the importance of upholding safety standards to prevent further tragedies.
