“Rust” weapons master must remain in prison

US gun master Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was found guilty of negligent homicide while filming a Hollywood movie, has failed in her request to have the trial reopened. “Please note that there was one death in which the jury found it was her fault,” Variety magazine quoted Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer as saying at a hearing on Friday. “So I won’t let them out.”

Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers had requested a new criminal trial and asked the judge to provisionally release their client. Now the 26-year-old weapons master must remain in prison until the verdict is announced on April 15.

On the film set of the western ‘Rust’ with protagonist Alec Baldwin, the gunsmith was responsible for safety when handling weapons. During October 2021 rehearsals at Bonanza Creek Ranch, 42-year-old camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured when a shot was fired from a propeller gun operated by Baldwin. Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the same bullet.

How did the live ammunition get onto 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 gun master, many questions remain unanswered, such as how the live ammunition ended up on the set.

Shortly after the incident, accusations and speculation were made. Members of the film crew complained about negligence and a lack of safety on the set: the inexperienced weapons master was overwhelmed and drank alcohol and drugs at work. Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers dismissed this as “defamation.” The Public Prosecution Service is looking for a ‘scapegoat’. (sda/dpa)