Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer charged with involuntary manslaughter in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, has had her trial commence with the prosecution and defense presenting their opening statements. The trial, which is expected to run through March 8, promises to be filled with a myriad of twists and turns.
Key Takeaway
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s manslaughter trial has commenced, with the prosecution and defense presenting contrasting narratives regarding the circumstances that led to the tragic incident on the set of “Rust.”
Prosecution’s Allegations
The prosecution wasted no time in placing the blame squarely on Gutierrez-Reed, asserting that she was at fault for the presence of the live round that resulted in Hutchins’ untimely demise. They highlighted instances where Gutierrez-Reed allegedly failed to adhere to safety protocols on set, such as neglecting to show the actors the rounds inside the weapon and allowing live ammunition to be carelessly left around the set.
Furthermore, the prosecution intends to present witnesses who will testify about Gutierrez-Reed’s purported failure to perform her duties adequately, emphasizing her alleged inability to recognize a live round when it was in her possession.
Defense’s Counterarguments
On the other hand, Gutierrez-Reed’s defense team contended that she was burdened with multiple responsibilities on set at the young age of 24, serving as both an armorer and prop assistant. They argued that her age and relative anonymity made her an easy scapegoat for the tragedy.
Additionally, the defense asserted that Gutierrez-Reed had requested more armorer days from the production manager, seeking to focus on her responsibilities in that domain. However, her request was purportedly denied, leading her to split her time between different roles.
OSHA Findings and Baldwin’s Involvement
The defense also brought attention to findings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which revealed numerous mistakes in the overall production. They emphasized that the issues at hand could not be solely attributed to Gutierrez-Reed individually, pointing out that OSHA had imposed a substantial fine on the production.
Moreover, the defense mentioned actor Alec Baldwin, alleging that he violated fundamental gun safety rules. They claimed that his actions with the firearm were not Gutierrez-Reed’s fault, insinuating that he had disregarded basic safety protocols.
