Conviction of movie gunsmith confirmed in fatal shooting on set of ‘Rust’ by Alec Baldwin | News, sports, jobs

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge on Monday upheld an involuntary manslaughter conviction against a movie gunsmith in the fatal shooting of a cameraman by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film “Rust.”

Gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed asked a court to overturn her conviction or set a new trial, saying prosecutors failed to turn over evidence that could have acquitted her.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer noted in her written order that the gunsmith’s attorneys failed to show that there was a reasonable possibility that the outcome of the trial would have been different if the evidence had been available to Gutierrez-Reed.

The judge also denied a request by Gutierrez-Reed to be released from custody, saying it was moot because the request for a new trial was denied.

Marlow Sommer halted and ended Baldwin’s trial in July due to police and prosecutorial misconduct and withholding evidence from the defense related to the shooting of camerawoman Halyna Hutchins on set outside Santa Fe in 2021.

Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of “Rust,” was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal for a film outside Santa Fe when the revolver exploded, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

A jury convicted Gutierrez-Reed of involuntary manslaughter in March in a trial led by Marlowe Sommer, who later gave her the maximum sentence of 18 months. Gutierrez-Reed has an appeal of the conviction pending in a higher court. The jury acquitted her of allegations that she had tampered with evidence “Rust” Investigation.

Prosecutors accused Gutierrez-Reed of unintentionally bringing live ammunition to the shooting scene “Rust” and for failing to follow basic gun safety protocols.

Among the evidence that Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers said prosecutors did not turn over was a firearms expert’s report on the functionality of the gun Baldwin used, ammunition later turned over to authorities and an interview with “Rust” Ammunition supplier Seth Kenney.

Defense attorneys did not immediately respond to an email Monday seeking comment on the judge’s decision.

Gutierrez-Reed pleaded not guilty to a separate felony charge that she allegedly carried a gun into a bar in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where firearms are banned. A proposed plea agreement awaits judicial review.