Hannah Gutierrez Reed's Conviction Upheld in Halyna Hutchins Shooting

In New Mexico, a judge has upheld the involuntary manslaughter conviction of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film 'Rust,' following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty earlier this year for her role in the incident, where a live round fired from a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin struck Hutchins, resulting in her death and injuring director Joel Souza. The court ruled that Gutierrez-Reed's defense did not sufficiently prove that withheld evidence would have altered the trial's outcome. The defense argued that the prosecution had suppressed critical evidence, including a firearms expert's report and witness interviews, which they claimed could have impacted the verdict. However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer determined that the state did not intentionally withhold evidence that would have changed the trial's result. Gutierrez-Reed's conviction carries a maximum sentence of 18 months, and she remains in custody to serve her sentence. This ruling comes after Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charges were dismissed in July, with the judge citing prosecutorial misconduct and failure to disclose evidence. Baldwin's defense pointed to the armorer and first assistant director's negligence in allowing live ammunition on set. The case has drawn significant media attention, highlighting issues of safety and accountability in film production. The legal proceedings surrounding the 'Rust' shooting have raised questions about the responsibilities of crew members and the protocols in place to ensure safety on set, as well as the implications of the judicial decisions made in these high-profile cases.