Rust armourer set to go on trial in New Mexicoon February 21, 2024 at 5:53 am

Armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will go on trial later for the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The case is due to get under way in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday.

Ms Hutchins died when a gun went off on the set of Rust, a forthcoming Western film, near Santa Fe in October 2021.

Ms Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.

She faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

Ms Gutierrez-Reed has tried to have the case dismissed, but a judge ruled last week it could proceed.

Alec Baldwin, the movie’s star, was re-charged with manslaughter claims in January, nine months after he was originally charged over Ms Hutchins’ death.

The previous charges against him were dropped last April when New Mexico prosecutors said new information had come to light which required further investigation.

Mr Baldwin was charged again on 19 January after local prosecutors said “additional facts” had emerged from forensic tests on the weapon used in the shooting.

The actor entered a not guilty plea on 31 January. No trial date has been scheduled in his case.

Ms Hutchins was killed when a prop gun held by Mr Baldwin went off at point-blank range as they were rehearsing a scene on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set of Rust.

Mr Baldwin, 65, had been practising firing a pistol for a scene. He has maintained he did not pull the trigger of the Colt .45 pistol and only drew back its hammer.

He has also argued he is not at fault for Ms Hutchins’ death because he did not know the weapon contained live rounds and because no live ammunition was supposed to be on set.

As the armourer, Ms Gutierrez-Reed was in charge of firearms.

It has not been officially established how live ammunition got on to the film set.

Ms Gutierrez-Reed was first charged with manslaughter early last year, with evidence tampering charges added when she allegedly refused to provide more information about the live rounds.

Rust resumed filming in early 2023 but the movie is yet to be released.