Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the movie “Rust,” has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of Halyna Hutchins. The verdict was delivered in a New Mexico court after a trial that lasted about two weeks. Gutierrez-Reed was also charged with evidence tampering, but she was found not guilty of that charge.
Key Takeaway
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of “Rust,” has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins.
The Trial and Verdict
During the trial, the prosecution presented several witnesses, including the first assistant director, a producer, and a line producer from the film. They testified that Gutierrez-Reed was negligent and careless in her duties as an armorer, which ultimately led to the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins. The jury agreed with the prosecution’s argument and found Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Sentencing and Reaction
Following the verdict, Gutierrez-Reed was remanded to custody and taken to jail immediately, despite her attorneys’ request for her to remain free until sentencing. The judge cited the seriousness of the charges and the fact that a life had been lost as reasons for remanding her to custody. Gutierrez-Reed’s family was present in the courtroom and visibly emotional as the verdict was delivered.
Defense and Future Proceedings
Gutierrez-Reed’s defense centered around the argument that she was overworked by the production and that the responsibility for the tragic incident did not lie with her. However, the jury did not find this argument convincing enough. It is unclear at this time whether Gutierrez-Reed plans to appeal the verdict.
Meanwhile, actor Alec Baldwin, who was also involved in the incident, is facing his own manslaughter charges in connection to the death of Halyna Hutchins. His trial is set to begin later this summer.
