A camerawoman dies while filming the western “Rust.” The weapons master is found guilty of negligent homicide – and now fails in her attempt to reopen the proceedings.
US weapons master Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was found guilty of negligent homicide during the filming of a Hollywood film, has failed in her application to reopen the trial. “Consider that there was one death in which the jury found that it was her fault,” the US magazine “Variety” quoted judge Mary Marlowe Sommer from a hearing. “So I’m not releasing her.”
Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers had requested a new criminal trial and asked the judge to release their client for now. Now the 26-year-old weapons master must remain in prison until the sentence is announced on April 15th.
On the film set of the Western “Rust” with leading actor Alec Baldwin, the weapons master was responsible for safety when handling weapons. During rehearsals in October 2021 at Bonanza Creek Ranch, 42-year-old camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured when a shot fired from a prop gun being operated by Baldwin. Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the same bullet.
How did the live ammunition get to the set?
Gutierrez-Reed had loaded the revolver, which was then handed to Baldwin. A trial against the 65-year-old Hollywood star for negligent homicide is scheduled for July. Both have repeatedly denied any blame for the incident. Even after the criminal trial against the weapon master, many questions remain unanswered – such as how the live ammunition got to the set.
Shortly after the incident, allegations and speculations were raised. Film crew members complained about negligence and a lack of safety on the set: the inexperienced weapons master was overwhelmed and consumed alcohol and drugs at work. Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers dismissed this as “defamation.” The public prosecutor’s office is looking for a “scapegoat.”
Source: Stern
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