Former movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is seeking a new trial and appeal of her involuntary manslaughter conviction in the 2021 shooting on the set of the film Rust. However, a special prosecutor is opposing her request to be released from prison while awaiting the outcome of her motion for a new trial. Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers argue that prosecutors failed to share potentially exculpatory evidence in her case.
The shooting occurred when actor Alec Baldwin accidentally fired a gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021. Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a jury in March and is currently serving an 18-month sentence.
Gutierrez-Reed’s appeal is based on claims that prosecutors withheld evidence and that she should either have her conviction dismissed or be granted a new trial. Despite this, the special prosecutor maintains that her motion for release is premature until the court has considered all aspects of her case.
Meanwhile, Baldwin’s trial was dismissed in July due to misconduct by police and prosecutors who withheld evidence from the defense. Gutierrez-Reed has already been acquitted of tampering with evidence in relation to the Rust investigation.
The case continues to be a complex legal battle as Gutierrez-Reed fights to clear her name and seek justice for the tragic events on the set of Rust.
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