Judge upholds armorer's conviction in fatal Rust shooting incident

In New Mexico, a judge has upheld the involuntary manslaughter conviction of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was found guilty in March for her role in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust". The incident occurred in October 2021 when Alec Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer, discharged a revolver during a rehearsal, resulting in Hutchins' death and injuring director Joel Souza. Gutierrez-Reed's conviction was challenged on grounds of alleged misconduct and evidence suppression by law enforcement, but the judge rejected her request for dismissal or a new trial. The court proceedings revealed that Gutierrez-Reed was accused of inadvertently bringing live ammunition onto the set and failing to adhere to essential gun safety protocols. Her defense argued that the prosecution did not disclose evidence that could have been beneficial to her case. Despite being acquitted of evidence tampering charges, she faces a separate felony charge for allegedly carrying a firearm into a prohibited area. The judge overseeing the case, Mary Marlowe Sommer, had previously halted Baldwin's trial due to misconduct by police and prosecutors, which included withholding evidence. Gutierrez-Reed has already filed an appeal against her conviction, which is currently pending in a higher court. The case has drawn significant media attention, highlighting issues of safety and accountability in the film industry. As the legal proceedings continue, the implications for those involved in the production of "Rust" remain significant, raising questions about the responsibilities of crew members and the protocols in place to ensure safety on set.