The highly anticipated trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film “Rust,” began on Thursday with the prosecution and defense presenting their opening statements. Gutierrez-Reed was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed by a live round fired from a prop gun on set.
The prosecution wasted no time in laying the blame squarely on Gutierrez-Reed, alleging that she failed to follow safety protocols and allowed live ammunition to make its way onto the set. They claim that Gutierrez-Reed did not properly inspect the weapons in front of the actors or adequately perform her duties as an armorer. They also allege that she left guns and ammunition lying around the set and could not recognize a live round when it was in her lap.
In contrast, Gutierrez-Reed’s defense team argued that she was only 24 years old and was tasked with multiple jobs on set, including both armorer and prop assistant. They claim that her age and relative inexperience make her an easy scapegoat for the tragedy. They also pointed out that Gutierrez-Reed had requested more armorer days from the production manager, but her request was denied, forcing her to split her time between jobs.
The defense also brought up OSHA’s findings, stating that the government agency found numerous mistakes in the production overall that could not be solely attributed to Gutierrez-Reed. They mentioned that the production had been fined by OSHA, one of the largest fines in New Mexico’s history.
Additionally, Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers mentioned actor Alec Baldwin, who was holding the gun that fired the fatal shot. They argued that Baldwin violated basic gun safety rules and that his actions were not Gutierrez-Reed’s fault.
The trial is expected to run through March 8, with many twists and turns anticipated along the way. The outcome of the trial will have far-reaching implications for the film industry and the enforcement of safety protocols on set. Stay tuned for further updates as the trial progresses.
