Rust production wanted to fire ‘difficult to work with’ armourer before Alec Baldwin shooting
“Rust” first assistant director David Halls testified during the trial, and choked up when he recalled the shooting of Halyna Hutchins
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“Rust” prop master Sarah Zachry testified during the trial and admitted to a defence attorney that she had previously voiced a desire to both fire Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and — after the shooting of Halyna Hutchins — see her sent to prison.
After the cross-exam, Ms Zachry told the prosection that the armourer was not easy to work with and confirmed that Gutierrez-Reed had called her a “c***,” which the prosecution argued is likely why Ms Zachry wanted to fire her.
Gutierrez-Reed is facing involuntary manslaughter charges in the fatal shooting of Ms Hutchins. Actor and producer Alec Baldwin is also facing involuntary manslaughter charges related to the shooting. His trial will begin on 9 July.
The prosecution seeks to prove that Gutierrez-Reed was negligent in her duties on set and that proper protocol was in place during the investigation of the shooting. The state claims the armourer was “sloppy” and had left guns unattended on the set.
Gutierrez-Reed is also facing an evidence tampering charge for allegedly asking a friend to hide cocaine for her while police were investigating the shooting.
Gutierrez-Reed faces up to three years in prison if she is convicted.
Court shows ‘Rust’ footage as armourer comments on safety infractions
Byran Carpenter, a Hollywood armourer, watched footage taken from the set of “Rust” and commented on safety issues he noticed, which — the state is arguing — should have been addressed by Gutierrez-Reed.
In one shot, an actor can be seen carrying a long shotgun without pointing the muzzle at the ground. The muzzle ends up pointed at various people as the actor walks across the set. Mr Carpenter said that broke the “third rule” of firearm handling, and said he would have asked the actor to either carry the gun properly, or he would have taken the gun from the actor.
In the same scene a background actor can be seen pointing a gun at two people.
The prosecutor asked Mr Carpenter if he saw Gutierrez-Reed in any of the footage. He said he did not.
Court sees footage in which shotgun barrel is pointed up at Gutierrez-Reed’s face
The state has showed a video clip taken from the production of “Rust” that shows a moment where Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is holding a shotgun.
The shotgun’s stock is on the ground, and the barrel is pointed upward. She has her hands wrapped around the end of the barrel, which at moments points up toward her face and neck.
Byran Carpenter, a Hollywood armourer testifying for the state, said it violated basic gun safety rules.
Defence cross-examines armourer
Jason Bowles, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s defence attorney is cross-examining Byran Carpenter, a Hollywood armourer who was called to testify by the state.
Mr Bowles used the opportunity to build a case against the film’s producers, pointing out that not only was Gutierrez-Reed assigned to prop duties on-top of her armourer duties, but that she was only a “part-time” fire arm.
Mr Carpenter earlier said he would have wanted two armourers on the “Rust” production because it was a “gun-heavy set.”
WATCH: ‘Rust’ shooting trial live
Live: Rust trial continues as armourer faces involuntary manslaughter charges
Watch live as the trial of Alec Baldwin’s Rust armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, continues on Thursday, 29 February.
Prosecutors ask armourer if he knew basic gun safety rules before beginning his job as an armourer
After cross-exmaination, the state asks Bryan Carpenter, a Hollywood armourer testifying in the “Rust” shooting trial, if he had to learn basic firearms safety while on the job, or if he understood those rules before he began his work as an armourer.
“When you first started out as an armourer, would you have held a double barrel shotgun pointed at your own head?”
“I would not,” he replied.
A video was shown earlier in which Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armourer on “Rust,” was holding a shotgun with the barrel pointed up at her head.
State calls ‘Rust’ producer Ryan Winterstern to testify
Ryan Winterstern, a producer of the film “Rust,” has been called by the state to testify.
After a short questioning from the state, the defence began a cross-examination.
The defence attorney pointed out that films produced in New Mexico receive a tax-credit that can then be sold, and that the costs of shooting a movie in the state can be recouped to a percentage and resold. The attorney then asked Mr Winterstern if the movie was a tax shelter.
Mr Winterstern did not seem to know what she meant by “tax shelter,” and after an objection she moved on from her question.
The defence attorney then asked if the six producers on the relatively low-budget “Rust” was out of the norm, which Mr Winterstern also did not know.
Court recesses for lunch
The court has recessed for lunch.
The trial will resume at 1pm local time, 3pm EST.
Trial resumes, ‘Rust’ producer Nathan Klingher takes the stand
The trial has resumed after a lunch break.
Nathan Klingher, one of the producers on the film “Rust,” has been called to testify.
John Ziello, ‘Rust’ grip, called to testify
John Ziello, the key rigghing grip on the set of “Rust,” has been called to testify.
He said he has worked in the film industry for 15 years and has worked on hundreds of projects.
‘Rust’ crewmember says he saw firearm-handling issues on set
John Ziello, the key rigging grip on the set of “Rust,” said on two occassions he saw the ammunition cart — with guns sitting out in the open — left unattended on set.
He later said that typically that would not occur on a set because there are “chain of custody” protocols involved in firearm handling on film sets.
Mr Ziello also said during one scene he saw an actor “playing with” one of the guns, and he half-jokingly said “hey man, don’t shoot me” to discourage the actor.
He said Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was not monitoring the actor with the weapon at the time of the incident.