**‘Rust’ Armorer Claims State Withheld Evidence and Seeks Release from Prison**
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film “Rust,” has made headlines once again as she seeks release from prison, claiming that the state withheld crucial evidence during her trial. Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in October 2021. The incident also injured director Joel Souza.
In recorded jail phone conversations, Gutierrez-Reed expressed her frustration with the jurors who convicted her, calling them “idiots” and “a–holes” and lamenting that they took only two hours to deliberate. These comments were revealed in a recent filing by prosecutors ahead of her sentencing, scheduled for Monday. Prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis argue that these remarks demonstrate Gutierrez-Reed’s lack of remorse and responsibility for her actions, and they are seeking the maximum penalty of 18 months in prison.
The trial focused on Gutierrez-Reed’s role in the incident, where Alec Baldwin, the film’s lead actor, held a prop gun that discharged a live round, resulting in Hutchins’ death. Gutierrez-Reed’s defense team is seeking a conditional discharge, but prosecutors contend that her recorded conversations with her mother, boyfriend, and her attorney’s paralegal show a “complete and total failure to accept responsibility.”
In the recorded conversations, Gutierrez-Reed expressed her desire for Baldwin to face jail time as well. She stated that she would not testify at Baldwin’s upcoming criminal trial if subpoenaed, arguing that she shouldn’t be compelled to testify if Baldwin did not appear for her trial. Additionally, Gutierrez-Reed requested her legal team to ask Hutchins’ widower and son to speak on her behalf at the sentencing, while also complaining about how the incident has negatively impacted her life and modeling career.
Prosecutors allege that Gutierrez-Reed brought live rounds onto the set by failing to properly inspect the “dummy” rounds she provided. They also claim she failed to check the rounds that were later confirmed as live ammo in Baldwin’s revolver and another actor’s gun belt. Furthermore, the filing notes that Gutierrez-Reed has another pending felony charge for allegedly hiding a firearm from security at a New Mexico bar and sneaking it into the venue.
Defense attorney Jason Bowles responded to the jail call revelations, stating that they would be filing a reply soon. The jail calls also included mentions of other inmates expressing disbelief at Gutierrez-Reed’s incarceration and her comments about the conditions in jail.
During the trial, first assistant director Dave Halls testified emotionally, admitting that he should have checked the gun more thoroughly and acknowledging his improper check of the firearm. Halls, who also served as the film’s safety coordinator, pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon last year and received six months of unsupervised probation as part of a plea deal.
Baldwin’s defense team has requested the dismissal of manslaughter charges against the actor, citing concerns that testimony during grand jury proceedings unfairly diverted attention away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses. Prosecutors had offered Baldwin a favorable plea agreement, similar to Halls’, but rescinded it after learning that Baldwin planned to accept the deal and create a documentary with interviews from case witnesses. Baldwin’s trial is scheduled for July.
In a separate development, a Santa Fe judge denied a defense request for Gutierrez-Reed’s release and refused to order a new trial. The defense had cited a recent New Mexico Supreme Court ruling in another case, State v. Taylor, arguing that the jury instructions in Gutierrez-Reed’s case were similarly confusing. However, the judge found the cases distinguishable and denied the motion.
Gutierrez-Reed’s defense team is expected to file an appeal on various grounds, including alleged defects with the jury instructions and the prosecution’s inadvertent sharing of attorney-client text messages with a key witness.
As the legal battles continue, the tragic incident on the set of “Rust” remains a stark reminder of the importance of safety protocols in the film industry. The case has garnered significant attention, with many closely watching the outcomes of both Gutierrez-Reed’s and Baldwin’s trials.
Source: NBC News, Variety, People
