A video pertaining to the trial of a fatal shooting on the set of the film ‘Rust’.
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Today, the prosecution presented their initial statements in the highly publicized case of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the person responsible for handling weapons on the set of “Rust” who is being charged with involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Prosecutor Jason Lewis stated that witnesses will testify to Gutierrez-Reed’s lack of professionalism and carelessness, and described the discovery of live ammunition on set as “unbelievable”.
Gutierrez-Reed faces charges of manslaughter and tampering with evidence. She has entered a plea of not guilty to all three charges.
During a rehearsal, Alec Baldwin, the star and producer of the film, accidentally shot and killed Ms. Hutchins with a replica gun that was mistakenly loaded with live ammunition. Baldwin, who is also facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, has placed the blame on Gutierrez-Reed for the tragedy on set. However, Gutierrez-Reed has accused Baldwin of creating an unsafe environment on set with inadequate safety training.
The jury consists of seven men and five women who have been chosen to determine the outcome of the 26-year-old’s case.
The district attorneys have charged Gutierrez-Reed with consuming alcohol and cocaine the night before the shooting, referencing messages sent between her and her friends. The charge of tampering with evidence is linked to her supposed drug consumption; prosecutors claim she directed a friend to conceal cocaine for her while law enforcement was searching the Rust set.
Prosecutors will also emphasize Gutierrez-Reed’s alleged drug use and attempt to persuade the jury that she is accountable for bringing and loading live ammunition onto the set, which resulted in the death of Ms. Hutchins.
If found guilty, she could potentially be sentenced to 18 months in jail and a fine of $5,000 for every charge she is facing.
Who is the armourer and assistant director, Alec Baldwin, facing charges for in the Rust movie shooting that resulted in the death of Halyna Hutchins?
Baldwin’s lawyers revealed on Thursday, April 20 that the charge of involuntary manslaughter, which was set to be tried in the upcoming weeks, had been dropped.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, a rust armorer, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. David Halls, the first assistant director, has agreed to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.
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The court was presented with a video recorded after the shooting.
Following the lunch break, prosecutors once again tried to present a video recorded after the deadly shooting.
The footage depicts Officer Nicholas LaFleur of Sante Fe arriving at the Rust church following the shooting.
Officer LaFleur informed the court that upon arriving at the scene, he retrieved a trauma kit and medical supplies from his truck. He then requested an “airflight” for the two victims.
The video playback has been disrupted by a series of technical issues, leading prosecutors to switch computers in an attempt to play it in the courtroom.
Photographs taken inside the courtroom
On February 22, 2024, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and her attorney Jason Bowles were present in First District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the first day of testimony in her trial. On Thursday, February 22, 2024, a trial was held in the First District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, involving Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and a photo of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was presented as evidence.
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The court is scheduled to resume.
The trial will continue following the lunch break.
Explanation: What is the definition of involuntary manslaughter and what is the potential punishment for this crime?
Involuntary manslaughter is a legal term that refers to the unintentional killing of another person.
The District Attorney of Santa Fe stated that Mr. Baldwin and Ms. Gutierrez-Reed will face charges for two counts of manslaughter, with the option of either charge being pursued.
The district attorney stated that the jury would determine the definition of involuntary manslaughter under which the accused would be found guilty, rather than simply determining their guilt.
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In case you missed it, Alec Baldwin has officially been charged with involuntary manslaughter for his involvement in the Rust shooting incident.
On October 21, 2021, Hutchins was fatally wounded by a live bullet at Bonanza Creek Ranch in the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Joel Souza, the director of the movie Rust, was also shot and wounded but managed to survive.
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The trial was temporarily paused.
The court has temporarily paused the trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the “Rust” armorer facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.
Before the recess, the prosecution summoned their initial witness, Officer Nicholas LeFleur of the Santa Fe police department.
A video captures the initial responders arriving at the location of the shooting involving Halyna Hutchins.
During the trial, a video presented by the prosecution’s initial witness, Santa Fe police officer Nicholas LeFleur, could not be broadcast or recorded.
The courthouse reports described the content on social media, detailing that it displayed body camera footage from Mr. LaFleur’s point of view upon arriving at the shooting location.
The audio captures paramedics and officers requesting an airlift and identifying the victims as Ms Hutchins and the movie’s director, Joel Souza. Mr Souza was able to survive his injury.
The initial testimony was given by Nicholas LeFleur, a member of the Santa Fe police force.
The district attorney summoned Nicholas LaFleur, an officer from Santa Fe, to testify.
Jason Lewis, the prosecutor, requested to present segments of Mr. LaFleur’s body camera footage to the jury. The judge had previously granted a petition to prevent the media from recording or broadcasting the footage.
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The defense plans to summon Thell Reed, who is the father of the defendant, to testify.
Jason Bowles, the lawyer who is representing Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, stated that they plan to summon her father, Thell Reed, to provide testimony.
Mr Reed is a celebrated Hollywood armourer and has worked on movies including “Tombstone” and “3:10 to Yuma” and trained actors including Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington.
According to Mr. Bowles, Gutierrez-Reed is skilled and competent in her profession, despite the prosecution’s claims. He also mentioned that Mr. Reed would corroborate this statement.
Source: independent.co.uk
