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.
‘Rust’ dolly grip describes what was supposed to happen in the film scene that ended with Halyna Hutchins shooting
Ross Addiego, a dolly grip who worked on the film ‘Rust’, explained what was supposed to happen during the scene that ended with Halyna Hutchins’ shooting.
He explained that film’s titular character “Harlan Rust,” portayed by Alec Baldwin, wanders into an abandoned church while he’s being chased by “lawmen.”
During the scene, Baldwin is supposed to hold his revolver and contemplate whether or not he’s going to get into a shootout with the people tracking him.
Ms Hutchins was fatally shot during a rehersal of the scene.
Mr Addiego said he was in the church when Hannah Guttierez-Reed brought the Colt 45 replica used in the scene into the room. He also heard someone on the production call “cold gun,” meaning the gun was not loaded and should be safe.
He further said that earlier in the day the crew had taken a lunch break, and that after the break he heard she had not checked the gun, which he said made him uneasy.
‘Rust’ dolly grip gives emotional recollection of on-set shooting
During his testimony on Monday, ‘Rust’ dolly grip Ross Addiego, became emotional as he recalled the moments after the shooting on the film’s set.
His voice faltering slightly, he told the court: “She was quite clearly injured... [she was] starting to go flush and holding her right side.”
“Joel [Souza] let out some scream to indicate that he was also injured,” he said.
Mr Addiego said that he had attended to Mr Souza, the director of the film, before he and other crew members had moved a church pew so that they could lay Hutchins on the floor. He recalled telling the director to “get the f*** out of here,” and someone else had called 911.
He added that he had not heard “anything verbal” from Hutchins, just groans of pain.
“They were trying to stbilise her to get her in a helicopter to get her to whatever ER they thought was appropriate,” he said, again with a trembling voice.
At one point Mr Addiego took off his glasses to wipe his eyes.
‘Rust’ dolly grip: ‘I’m hoping for justice'
‘Rust’ movie dolly grip Ross Addiego admitted under cross-examination that he was not used to seeing a young 24-year-old armourour, but said Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s gender had not “come into it”.
Mr Addeigo said he had sued ‘Rust’ productions and Alec Baldwin, but not Ms Gutierrez-Reed. He was asked if he had brought the lawsuits hoping for money.
“I’m hoping for justice sir, two people were injured on a film set and that has affected other people, myself and the industry,” he replied.
He added that he thought it was “dangerous” that Ms Gutierrez-Reed should had been placed to work in both the armoury and prop departments, while working on the movie.
‘No-one on Rust set could stand up to Alec Baldwin’ says film dolly grip
Ross Addiego said that actor Alec Baldwin, the star and producer of ‘Rust’, had been known to hurry people along, and that no one had been able to “stand up” to him.
Defense attorney Jason Bowles asked if he thought that at times production – a union-backed film – had been “rushed, reckless and careless,” and whether people could voice concerns.
“I don’t recall anyone standing up to Mr Baldwin on the set,” he said, adding: “He’s the produced, he’s the writer, and on the call sheet he’s number one.”
“Having the union behind you makes it likely that you can stand up [to someone] - on a union movie.”
Asked by Mr Bowles if he could have “stopped the whole movie” if hed had voiced concerns over safety, Mr Addiego replied “I could have voiced my opinion”.
He continued: “I was concerned and this needed to be on the daily production report so that other producers would see them,” adding that he had not seen any evidence that his concerns had been addressed.
Mr Addiego said he was not informed Ms Gutierrez-Reed was non-union until after the incident had occurred.
Court is adjourned for the day
Court has adjourned for the day in the high-profile trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armourer on the set of the film “Rust” who faces involuntary manslaughter charges in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
On the fourth day of the trail, jurors heard from multiple FBI experts on DNA and firearms, as well as the film’s dolly grip Ross Addiego.
It was also announced earlier that the manslaughter trial of Alec Baldwin, the star and producer of “Rust”, will begin on 9 July.
Procedings will resume tomorrow at 8.30am PT.
Alec Baldwin to stand trial this summer on a charge stemming from deadly 'Rust' movie set shooting
A New Mexico judge has set a trial date for Alec Baldwin on an involuntary manslaughter charge stemming from a deadly shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.”
Read the full story here:
Alec Baldwin to stand trial this summer on a charge stemming from deadly 'Rust' movie set shooting
A New Mexico judge has set a trial date for Alec Baldwin on an involuntary manslaughter charge stemming from a deadly shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.”
Images from inside the courtroom
ICYMI: Alec Baldwin’s trial set to begin in July
On Monday it was announced that the trial of Alec Baldwin, who is facing manslaughter charges in the shooting death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, will begin on 9 July with jury selection.
Opening statements by special prosecutors and the actor’s defense attorneys will take place the following day, and proceedings are expected to last eight days.
Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the film, pleaded not guilty in January, the day before he was scheduled to be arraigned. A grand jury had indicted him after prosecutors received a new analysis of the revolver he was using during filming, renewing a charge that prosecutors originally filed and then dismissed in April 2023.
EXPLAINER — Alec Baldwin: What is involuntary manslaughter and the expected sentence?
Alec Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the on-set death of Halyna Hutchins, the Santa Fe District Attorney has said.
What is involuntary manslaughter?
The Santa Fe DA said that Mr Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez-Reed would be “charged in the alternative” with two counts of manslaughter.
This means that a “jury would decide not simply if they were guilty, but under which definition of involuntary manslaughter they were guilty,” the DA said in a statement.
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Alec Baldwin: What is involuntary manslaughter and the expected sentence?
‘Jury would decide not simply if they were guilty, but under which definition of involuntary manslaughter they were guilty’