Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez set for trial over fatal film set shooting in New Mexico

Hannah Gutierrez , who was responsible for weapons on the set of Rust, has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Alec Baldwin, who was holding the gun when it went off, faces a separate trial at a date to be set.

Wednesday 21 February 2024 12:36, UK

Hannah Gutierrez pictured on the Rust set following the fatal shooting. Pic: Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office/ AP
Image: Hannah Gutierrez pictured on the Rust set following the fatal shooting. Pic: Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office/ AP
Why you can trust Paste BN

The armourer responsible for weapons on the set of western film Rust is set to go on trial over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Jury selection in Hannah Gutierrez's case starts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday, with the trial expected to get under way once this has taken place.

Ms Hutchins was killed during filming of Rust after a gun held by actor and producer Alec Baldwin went off during a rehearsal in October 2021. Director Joel Souza was also wounded.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (pictured) died, while director Joel Souza was also injured. Pic: SWEN STUDIOS/ Reuters
Image: Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (pictured) died, while director Joel Souza was also injured. Pic: SWEN STUDIOS/ Reuters

Gutierrez has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. She faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine (about £3,967) if convicted.

Baldwin has also pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge, in a case being dealt with separately.

Gutierrez was responsible for storage, maintenance and handling of firearms and ammunition on set and for training members of the cast who would be handling firearms, according to state workplace safety regulators.

Prosecutors say she unwittingly introduced live ammunition to the set in a series of negligent actions.

Gutierrez's lawyers say she has been made a scapegoat.

What is happening with Baldwin's case?

Baldwin, pictured on set at the time of the shooting, has been charged separately. Pic: Sante Fe Police
Image: Baldwin, pictured on set at the time of the shooting, has been charged separately. Pic: Sante Fe Police

Baldwin was originally charged in January 2023, more than a year after the shooting.

Those charges were dropped a few months later based on evidence the hammer of the revolver might have been modified, allowing it to fire without the trigger being pulled.

The star was then charged again in January this year, and earlier this month pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Read more from Paste BN:
'An absolute original': Ricky Gervais leads tributes to The Office star
Beyonce becomes first black woman to hit number one on US country chart

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Paste BN app for free

Baldwin has said he pulled back the gun's hammer - but not the trigger - and the weapon fired.

A trial date for his case has not yet been set.

Filming of Rust resumed last year in Montana - with Baldwin reprising his role as the main character - after an agreement made Ms Hutchins' widower an executive producer.

Related Topics