Judge in fatal Rust shooting declines to dismiss case against armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has made the decision to reject an appeal to dismiss the case against Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed following the death of Halyna Hutchins

A judge in the fatal Rust movie shooting has declined to dismiss the case against the on-set armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter following the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The armourer had hoped the judge could change her initial 18-month sentence after she lodged an appeal following Alec Baldwin's case being dropped.

Ukrainian cinematographer Hutchins was shot dead on the set in New Mexico in October 2021 after a gun Gutierrez-Reed passed to Hollywood star Alec Baldwin discharged live rounds. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the tragic incident.

Baldwin had been facing charges over Hutchins' tragic death and had pleaded not guilty to the charge. If convicted, he could have faced up to 18 months in prison, like Gutierrez-Reed. However, his case was dropped and Gutierrez-Reed subsequently lodged on appeal of her own.

Her attorneys had argued in court filings that she was entitled to a new trial or dismissal of the case for "egregious prosecutorial misconduct" and "severe and ongoing discovery violations by the State." However, the motion was denied on Monday by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. Arguments had been heard during a virtual hearing on Thursday.

The judge also denied a separate motion from the defence seeking immediate release from detention. The judge stated that issues that had been raised by the defence hadn't justified ordering a new trial or dismissal. She went on to say that in Gutierrez-Reed's case, the state did not suppress the ammunition evidence that was at the the main part of Baldwin's dismissal.

A jury had previously found Gutierrez guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hutchins following the fatal shooting in Santa Fe. During the trial in March, it was argued that the armourer had failed to follow safety protocols on the movie set, which were supposed to be in place to protect the crew while handling the firearms.

Despite Baldwin's charges being dropped, movie guru Quentin Tarantino previously stated the actor should take some responsibility for the fatality. Speaking on Bill Maher's podcast Club Random last month, he explained why he thinks Baldwin was also "responsible".

"It's a situation, I think I'm being fair enough to say, that the armourer — the guy who handles the gun — is 90 per cent responsible for everything that happens when it comes to that gun... but but but but but.... the actor is 10% responsible," he explained.

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