The trial of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed continues with shocking revelations and attempts to shift blame over the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Gutierrez-Reed faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in connection to the fatal 2021 shooting on the film set.
Blood-Stained Shirt and Bullet Displayed:
During the trial’s second day, the jury was presented with distressing images, including cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ blood-stained shirt and the bullet that claimed her life.
The prosecution aims to build a case against Gutierrez-Reed, accusing her of negligence and failure to ensure safety on set.
Prosecution’s Portrayal and Cocaine Allegations:
The previous day, prosecutors painted Gutierrez-Reed as disorganized and ill-prepared, alleging the mixing of live ammunition with dummy rounds.
They also made claims of her engaging in cocaine use the night before the fatal rehearsal.
These assertions aim to establish a narrative of her culpability in the tragic incident.
Defense Counters with Baldwin and Producers Blame:
In response, Gutierrez-Reed’s defense asserts that she is being unfairly scapegoated, shifting the blame onto actor Alec Baldwin and the film’s producers.
Baldwin, who pointed the gun that fired the fatal shot, is separately facing involuntary manslaughter charges.
The defense argues that Gutierrez-Reed is not at fault and is being smeared to protect others involved in the production.
Shop’s Ammunition Storage Under Scrutiny:
The trial also delved into images of Seth Kenney’s PDQ Props shop, a supplier of ammunition to the Rust set.
Gutierrez-Reed’s defense presented these images to suggest haphazard ammunition storage, possibly implicating Kenney in the safety lapses.
The defense aims to cast doubt on the source of the live rounds that ended up on the set.
Text Messages and Post-Incident Communication:
Text messages presented in court revealed Gutierrez-Reed’s communication, mentioning getting high the night before the fatal incident.
The defense attempts to use these messages to highlight her state of mind at the time.
Additionally, messages post-incident, including discussions about ammunition and safety, were shown, indicating the aftermath’s chaotic nature.
Blame Shifting and Negligence Allegations:
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, argued that his client faced challenges performing two rushed jobs on Rust, with requests for additional resources going unanswered.
The defense contends that Gutierrez-Reed did not bring live ammunition onto the set, pointing to broader safety issues beyond her control.
Prosecutors, however, claim she failed in crucial safety checks, contributing to Hutchins’ death.
Shift of Blame to Baldwin:
The defense strategy involves shifting blame from Gutierrez-Reed to Baldwin, emphasizing his handling of the gun during rehearsal.
Bowles argues that Baldwin either had his finger on the trigger or pulled it, placing the responsibility squarely on the actor.
Baldwin maintains he only pulled back the gun’s hammer, not the trigger.
Conclusion:
As the trial unfolds, the shocking evidence and attempts to shift blame create a complex narrative surrounding the tragic events on the Rust film set.
The prosecution contends negligence on Gutierrez-Reed’s part, while the defense paints a picture of systemic failures and points fingers at Baldwin and the film’s producers.
The trial will continue to unravel the intricacies of this high-profile case.
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