“Rust” capturing: Weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed makes first courtroom look

A movie-industry weapons supervisor made her first formal courtroom look Friday on a felony cost within the capturing demise of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of a Western film.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s legal professional stated his shopper will plead not responsible, however the decide didn’t take that plea throughout the digital courtroom continuing. As an alternative, the decide issued circumstances of launch that permit Gutierrez-Reed to maintain a gun at residence for self-defense.

Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin have been charged final month with felony involuntary manslaughter within the capturing demise of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died shortly after being wounded throughout rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe in October 2021.

Gutierrez-Reed’s legal professional advised the decide his shopper has acquired quite a few threats and was pressured to file for a restraining order towards a stalker. He stated authorities launched paperwork associated to the case and did not redact figuring out data that included telephone numbers.

District Lawyer Mary Carmack-Altwies advised the decide she adamantly opposed the request due to Gutierrez-Reed’s “sloppy mishandling of firearms and weapons” on the set. She steered Gutierrez-Reed may both transfer or maintain a bat or pepper spray in her home as a substitute.

Gutierrez-Reed’s legal professional, Jason Bowles, challenged the district legal professional’s characterization and disputed the declare about sloppiness.

“There isn’t a allegation that she is a hazard to anybody having a firearm inside her residence and it is for self-protection due to actions that the state took in releasing non-public data. That’s the reason for that request,” he stated.

Along with permitting Gutierrez-Reed to have a gun at residence, the decide ordered her to not have any contact with witnesses who may testify as a part of the case.

A day earlier Baldwin agreed to forgo a listening to to have his rights defined to him and entered a plea of not responsible.

The decide allowed Baldwin to have restricted contact with potential witnesses in reference to plans to finish the filming of “Rust.” Different provisions included a prohibition on consuming alcohol and towards any possession of weapons, together with firearms.

Work on “Rust” was halted with Hutchins’ demise. Rust Film Productions says filming is predicted to renew this spring, with out using actual weapons or ammunition.

The involuntary manslaughter expenses towards Baldwin, a lead actor and co-producer on “Rust,” and Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s armor, are punishable by as much as 18 months in jail and a $5,000 high quality beneath New Mexico regulation.

Prosecutors and protection attorneys are making ready for a possible preliminary listening to inside a number of months to find out whether or not there’s enough proof to proceed to trial.

Authorities stated Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin’s legal professional Luke Nikas stated when the fees have been introduced that they have been “a horrible miscarriage of justice.” He stated Baldwin relied on the professionals with whom he labored and “had no cause to consider there was a reside bullet within the gun.”

Bowles had stated the fees have been the results of “a really flawed investigation and an inaccurate understanding of the total details.” He stated he believed jurors will exonerate his shopper.

Prosecutors say assistant director David Halls, who oversaw security on set, has signed an settlement to plead responsible within the negligent use of a lethal weapon, explaining that he might have dealt with the gun improperly earlier than it was given to Baldwin.

A decide is scheduled to contemplate approval of the plea settlement in March. Halls waived his first look in courtroom.

Word: This model corrects that Gutierrez-Reed didn’t enter a plea throughout the courtroom continuing. Her legal professional stated she’s going to plead not responsible. However the decide didn’t take that plea Friday.