Hannah Gutierrez-Reed on Oct. 21, 2021.Photo:Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office via AP
RustarmorerHannah Gutierrez-Reed’s criminal trial is finally underway, more than two years after the fatal on-set shooting of the movie’s cinematographer,Halyna Hutchins.
On Wednesday, Gutierrez-Reed is expected to appear in a New Mexico courtroom alongside her attorneys Jason Bowles and Todd Buillon as jury selection begins.
She faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence that Santa Fe County District Attorney’s officefirst filed against herin January 2023.
Gutierrez-Reedentered a written plea of not guiltyon Aug. 9, 2023. “Ms. Gutierrez has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is preparing for her day in court,” her attorney Bowles said in a statement to PEOPLE at that time. “She looks forward to her day in court, and to having the conduct of everyone on set fully examined.”
The agreed-upon conditions of Gutierrez-Reed’s release back in August said she could not possess firearms, could not consume drugs or alcohol (with twice-monthly tests) and could not return to the location of the alleged incident.
Alec Baldwin on the set of Rust.Courtesy of Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office
Gutierrez-Reed was the armorer on the set of the the indie Western filmRust, whichAlec Baldwinstarred in and produced. During a rehearsal on the movie’s set at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, Baldwin, 65, discharged a prop gun that happened to be loaded with live rounds, shooting directorJoel Souzaand cinematographer Hutchins. Gutierrez-Reed was 25 at the time of Hutchins' death.Rustmarked her second job as an armorer on a feature film, according to TheAssociated Press.
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Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.TheImageDirect.com
Gutierrez-Reed’s criminal trial is expected to run through March 6, according to The AP. More than 40 people are listed to appear as witnesses during the trial, as the outlet reported.
If Gutierrez-Reed is convicted of involuntary manslaughter, she could face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine, per the AP. The evidence tampering charge filed against her is related to allegations that she gave a small bag potentially containing narcotics to anotherRustcrew member following the shooting, the outlet reported.
source: people.com
