Testimony begins in trial of 'Rust' armorer

Feb. 22—SANTA FE — Actor Alec Baldwin and others in control of the low-budget "Rust" movie were responsible for safety problems that led to the fatal shooting of the film's cinematographer, a defense attorney told jurors Thursday.

Prosecutors have made armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed "the scapegoat" for the rushed and dangerous conditions on the set over which the young woman had little control, attorney Jason Bowles said on the first day of her trial.

Gutierrez Reed, 26, was indicted in January 2023 with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence charges in the Oct. 21, 2021, death of Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal on the New Mexico set.

Prosecutors told jurors Thursday that Gutierrez Reed negligently loaded a live round into a .45-caliber prop gun that Baldwin was holding when it discharged, fatally shooting Hutchins.

They also allege that Gutierrez Reed was responsible for bringing a box of ammunition on the set that contained both live rounds and harmless "dummy" rounds used in the movie industry.

Testimony began Thursday in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe. The trial is scheduled through March 6 before Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer.

"Mr. Baldwin, one of the the lead producers, head actor in the movie and really, controlling the set," Bowles said in opening statements.

"You know what the primary thing was here?" Bowles told jurors. "Rush, get this done, so we can get the money. And Mr. Baldwin is one of the primary producers. That's on them."

As an example of cost cutting, Gutierrez Reed was required to work as both a props assistant and armorer, Bowles said. Gutierrez Reed asked her manager to allow her more time to work as an armorer, but the request was denied, he said.

"They were splitting her between those (jobs) and making her, for example, roll cowboy cigarettes," Bowles said.

The production was plagued by safety issues, such as the accidental discharge of two gunshots on the same day, he said.

"She's being rushed. She's having to perform two jobs," he said. "She's asking for more resources and help from her manager and she's not getting it."

Bowles said Baldwin was needlessly carrying a prop Colt revolver to rehearse a dangerous "cross-draw" maneuver and violated a basic production rule to never point a gun at a cast or crew member.

"You are going to hear that he violated some of the most basic gun safety rules you can ever learn," he said. "From a young age we learn that you don't point a gun at somebody, ever, unless you are going to shoot them."

Special prosecutor Jason Lewis told jurors Thursday that Gutierrez Reed brought the live rounds on the set days or weeks before the fatal shooting.

In all, six live rounds were found on the set, including in firearms and prop belts worn by Baldwin and others, Lewis told jurors.

"You are going to hear throughout this trial that (Gutierrez Reed) was unprofessional and that she failed to do the essential safety functions of her job," Lewis told jurors. "This failure resulted in live ammunition being spread throughout this entire set."

Once the live ammunition was on the set, "she failed to detect it because she didn't follow those essential safety protocols that require her to inspect every round before they were place in a gun," Lewis said.

Live rounds are distinguishable from harmless "dummy" rounds in their appearance, Lewis said. Dummy rounds also contain a pellet that is audible when the round is shaken, he said.

Lewis showed jurors a photograph of Gutierrez Reed taken 11 days before the fatal shooting that showed the armorer handling what he called a live round.

Prosecutors also showed a photo of prop belts, or bandoliers, worn by Baldwin and a second actor that Lewis said contained live bullets recognizable by a silver primer and other distinctive features.

Bowles responded that prosecutors are relying on a "new theory" that live rounds are recognizable from photos, such as the ones shown to jurors in openings.

"You cannot tell a live round from a dummy by a picture," Bowles said. "The reason for that is that the dummies are made in Hollywood to look just like live rounds."