A weapons supervisor charged with a felony for her alleged position within the capturing loss of life of a cinematographer on the set of a Western film pleaded not responsible throughout her first formal court docket look Friday.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and Alec Baldwin had been charged final month with felony involuntary manslaughter within the capturing loss of life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died shortly after being wounded throughout rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe in October 2021.
A New Mexico decide set situations of launch that allowed Gutierrez-Reed to maintain a gun at dwelling for self-defense. Her lawyer advised the decide his shopper has acquired quite a few threats and was pressured to file for a restraining order in opposition to a stalker. He stated authorities launched paperwork associated to the case and did not redact figuring out data that included cellphone numbers.
District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies advised the decide she adamantly opposed the request due to Gutierrez-Reed’s “sloppy mishandling of firearms and guns” on the set. She instructed Gutierrez-Reed may both transfer or preserve a bat or pepper spray in her home as a substitute.
Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer, Jason Bowles, challenged the district lawyer’s characterization and disputed the declare about sloppiness.
“There is no allegation that she is a danger to anyone having a firearm within her home and it’s for self-protection because of actions that the state took in releasing private information. That is the reason for that request,” he stated.
In addition to permitting Gutierrez-Reed to have a gun at dwelling, the decide ordered her to not have any contact with witnesses who may testify as a part of the case.
A day earlier Baldwin agreed to forgo a listening to to have his rights defined to him and entered a plea of not responsible.
The decide allowed Baldwin to have restricted contact with potential witnesses in reference to plans to finish the filming of “Rust.” Other provisions included a prohibition on consuming alcohol and in opposition to any possession of weapons, together with firearms.
Work on “Rust” was halted with Hutchins’ loss of life. Rust Movie Productions says filming is anticipated to renew this spring, with out using actual weapons or ammunition.
The involuntary manslaughter costs in opposition to Baldwin, a lead actor and co-producer on “Rust,” and Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s armor, are punishable by as much as 18 months in jail and a $5,000 effective underneath New Mexico regulation.
Prosecutors and protection attorneys are making ready for a probable preliminary listening to inside just a few months to find out whether or not there’s ample proof to proceed to trial.
Authorities stated Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin’s lawyer Luke Nikas stated when the costs had been introduced that they had been “a terrible miscarriage of justice.” He stated Baldwin relied on the professionals with whom he labored and “had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun.”
Bowles had stated the costs had been the results of “a very flawed investigation and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts.” He stated he believed jurors will exonerate his shopper.
Prosecutors say assistant director David Halls, who oversaw security on set, has signed an settlement to plead responsible within the negligent use of a lethal weapon, explaining that he might have dealt with the gun improperly earlier than it was given to Baldwin.
A decide is scheduled to think about approval of the plea settlement in March. Halls waived his first look in court docket.
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