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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The trial and conviction of a movie armorer in connection with a fatal shooting on the set of the Western movie “Rust” has given Alec Baldwin and his legal team a unusual window into how his own trial in the death could unfold. Baldwin’s trial is scheduled for July and will involve the same judge and prosecutors as well as many of the same witnesses. But Gutierrez-Reed's trial included previously undisclosed testimony from eyewitnesses to the shooting. “Alec Baldwin’s conduct and his lack of gun safety inside that church on that day is something that he’s going to have to answer for," prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in her closing arguments against Gutierrez-Reed. The filming of “Rust” moved to Montana after the shooting in New Mexico, under an agreement with Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, that made him an executive producer.

Persons: Alec Baldwin, convicting armorer Hannah Gutierrez, Reed, Halyna Hutchins, Baldwin, “, Hutchins, Joel Souza, Gutierrez, Emily D, Baker, wasn't, Hannah, ”, Reed's, Bryan Carpenter, Souza, Dave Halls, Mamie Mitchell, Alec Baldwin’s, Kari Morrissey, ” Morrissey, Jason Lewis, Attorney Mary Carmack, Altwies, Carmack, Ross Addiego, “ Rust ”, Matthew Hutchins, ___ Dalton Organizations: SANTA FE, New, Forensic Science Services, Gutierrez, Attorney, Democratic Locations: SANTA, New Mexico, Gutierrez, Angeles, Santa Fe, Arizona, Montana, Los Angeles

☆ ‘Rust’ Killing Forces Hollywood to Make Choices on Guns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Julia Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The fatal “Rust” shooting offered a vivid reminder that many of the guns used on film sets are real. Sometimes they are loaded with blanks — cartridges with gunpowder but no projectiles — that produce a loud bang and a flash when fired. But while live ammunition is almost always banned on sets, real guns can of course also be loaded with real bullets, which is what happened in 2021 on the day Ms. Hutchins was killed. But since “Rust,” many armorers, who are responsible for firearms safety on sets, have seen opportunities dwindle, several said in interviews. And demand has increased for alternatives to real guns.

Persons: Baldwin, Hutchins, Mary Carmack, Altwies, ”, “ Priscilla, Priscilla, Elvis Presley, “ Napoleon, “, Steven Leek, “ Rust, “ Golda, Helen Mirren, Golda Meir, Dwayne Johnson, Guy Ritchie, Rebecca West, Ben Affleck Organizations: Newsweek Locations: Santa Fe County, “, Britain, Afghanistan

REUTERS/Bing Guan/File PhotoAug 4 (Reuters) - “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez on Friday waived her right to a preliminary hearing, allowing charges against her over the 2021 shooting death of the movie's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, to move toward a possible trial. Actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing when he fired a live round that killed cinematographer Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Prosecutors Andrea Reeb and Mary Carmack-Altwies, who handled the case until March, declined to comment on plea bargains. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, who took over the case, said in a statement she expected the case to be set for trial in the future. Under New Mexico law, to convict Gutierrez of involuntary manslaughter prosecutors must prove she showed willful disregard for firearms safety.

Persons: Bing Guan, armorer Hannah Gutierrez, Halyna Hutchins, Jason Bowles, Hutchins, Bowles, Alec Baldwin, Joel Souza, Gutierrez, Dave Halls, Andrea Reeb, Mary Carmack, Altwies, Kari Morrissey, Prosecutors, Baldwin, Morrissey, Andrew Hay, Donna Bryson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, New, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Santa Fe , New Mexico, U.S, Mexico, New Mexico

☆ Alec Baldwin: Prosecutors plan to dismiss charges against actor in 'Rust' shooting, Baldwin's attorney tells CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Prosecutors in the “Rust” fatal shooting case plan to file a notice to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin, his attorney, Luke Nikas, tells CNN. CNN has contacted the special prosecutor in the Santa Fe, New Mexico case for comment. Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were both charged with involuntary manslaughter in January. An attorney for Gutierrez Reed has previously said she will plead not guilty. Prosecutors already removed a firearm enhancement charge against Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed, reducing a potential prison sentence from 5 years to a maximum of 18 months.

Baldwin, who is also a producer on the film, was charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Though Baldwin's manslaughter case has been dropped, the actor still faces other legal woes as a result of the accidental shooting. In early February, Hutchins' parents and sister filed a lawsuit against Baldwin, "Rust" producers and other crew members, accusing them of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other charges. Halls' hearing was the first to be conducted under the supervision of special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis. In her place, she appointed Morrissey and Lewis as special prosecutors.

☆ ‘Rust’ assistant director pleads guilty to gun charge in movie set shooting case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

David Halls, the "Rust" assistant director who handled the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, pleaded no contest Friday to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. The New Mexico judge overseeing the "Rust" case sentenced Halls to six months of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine and 24 hours of community service. To date, "Rust" proceedings have been routinely disrupted by complications concerning the appointment of the case's previous special prosecutor. The first special prosecutor for the case, Andrea Reeb, stepped down earlier this month, after Baldwin's defense lawyers filed a motion requesting her removal. "My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the 'Rust' case," Carmack-Altwies said in a statement.

☆ 'Rust' case district attorney appoints new special prosecutors, recuses herself
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The New Mexico district attorney who had overseen the "Rust" movie set manslaughter case recused herself Wednesday and appointed new special prosecutors after weeks of upheaval and controversy in the case. New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies appointed New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as special prosecutors. "My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the 'Rust' case," Carmack-Altwies said in a statement. Reeb, a former district attorney, was named special prosecutor before being elected to New Mexico's legislature last fall. Gutierrez-Reed's legal team, however, called for the request to appoint a new special prosecutor to be denied.

☆ Defense for 'Rust' armorer prepares to file motion to dismiss manslaughter case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Defense attorneys for the original "Rust" movie armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, are planning in the next two weeks to file a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against her, according to a person familiar with the matter. "Rust" star and producer Alec Baldwin is also charged in the case. If approved, the dismissal motion on behalf of Gutierrez-Reed would not automatically drop the charges against Baldwin, according to another person familiar with the matter. Reeb was announced as special prosecutor in August, and she was elected to New Mexico's legislature last fall. She stepped down as special prosecutor last week after Baldwin's defense team sought to disqualify her.

March 14 (Reuters) - The special prosecutor handling the case against actor Alec Baldwin in the 2021 "Rust" movie set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins announced on Tuesday she is stepping down, as Baldwin's lawyers had sought. The decision by special prosecutor Andrea Reeb came a month after Baldwin's attorney filed a motion to remove her because she is also a representative in the state legislature. The Baldwin team argued it violates the state constitution for a legislator to serve in another branch of government. "I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand." Gutierrez-Reed has blamed the shooting on potential sabotage, Baldwin's lack of firearms training, and a failure by Halls and Baldwin to call her onto set for extra firearm checks.

☆ Prosecutors in Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting case are getting heat over apparent missteps
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The charges stem from the October 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of independent film "Rust." She won the race in November but stayed on the "Rust" case. In September, Torraco donated $250 to Reeb's campaign, assuming that if Reeb won the legislative race, she would automatically recuse herself frocrat, andm the "Rust" case. Media circusThe case has received significant media attention, which has persisted due to Baldwin and the prosecutors' press communication. Beyond that, Heather Brewer, the DA's spokesperson specifically hired for the "Rust" case, has made several heated statements about Baldwin and his attorneys on behalf of the DA's office.

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Producers of the Western movie 'Rust' on Friday said they had agreed to pay a $100,000 civil fine for "serious" workplace safety breaches prior to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a New Mexico film set in 2021. Hutchins was killed when actor Alec Baldwin fired a live round from a gun he was using during a rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe. The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rust Line Producer Gabrielle Pickle told the agency on Dec. 20 Gutierrez-Reed's requests for extra armorer days were granted. Production of the movie is set to resume in the spring in Montana, RMP has said.

☆ Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 'Rust' shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Actor Alec Baldwin entered a not guilty plea on Thursday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a fatal shooting on the New Mexico set of the film "Rust," court documents show. Baldwin made the plea while exercising his right to waive a first court appearance that was set for Friday, according to a court filing. New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies in January charged Baldwin and the movie's set armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. First assistant director Dave Halls also plead not guilty in a Thursday court filing in which he waived a Feb. 24 first court appearance. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed now faces a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted.

☆ Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' manslaughter charges downgraded, cutting possible prison time
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Prosecutors have downgraded the involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin, reducing the possible prison time the Hollywood star may face for the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the movie "Rust," charging documents showed. Carmack-Altwies filed altered charges for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed on Friday, removing the firearm enhancement and reducing their possible prison sentence from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 18 months. “We applaud the decision of the district attorney to dismiss the firearm enhancement and it was the right call, ethically, and on the merits," said Jason Bowles, an attorney for Gutierrez-Reed. In 2022, the criteria for applying the firearm enhancement -with the 5-year minimum prison sentence - was expanded to include when a weapon was simply "discharged" in the commission of a noncapital felony. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed are both expected to make an initial court appearance in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Feb. 24.

☆ Alec Baldwin Is Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter in ‘Rust’ Fatal Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Katherine Sayre | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Prosecutors filed involuntary manslaughter charges Tuesday against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the movie “Rust” in New Mexico, according to court records. Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies also filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the film’s armorer who handled guns on the set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

☆ Alec Baldwin Set to Be Charged Tuesday With Involuntary Manslaughter in ‘Rust’ Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Katherine Sayre | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Alec Baldwin has insisted he didn’t pull the trigger of the revolver when the gun discharged on the set of ’Rust.’Prosecutors plan to file involuntary manslaughter charges Tuesday against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the movie “Rust” in New Mexico, according to the Santa Fe-area district attorney’s office. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said earlier in January that she would file the charges before the end of the month.

☆ Baldwin charged for 'reckless acts' leading to 'Rust' shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Baldwin and set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were each charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Baldwin's case is remarkable in that there is little or no precedent for a Hollywood actor to face criminal charges for an on-set shooting. A statement of probable cause by the prosecution's special investigator, Robert Shilling, made clear Baldwin was being charged as an actor and producer on the low-budget movie. Videos from inside the church prior to the shooting show Baldwin with his finger on the trigger, Shilling said. [1/6] Actor Alec Baldwin departs his home, as he will be charged with involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie "Rust", in New York, U.S., January 31, 2023.

☆ Alec Baldwin, armorer to be charged over 'Rust' shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 31 (Reuters) - Actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will be charged on Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Western "Rust" in 2021, a New Mexico prosecutor said. A sheriff's office investigation has yet to reveal how live ammunition got onto the set outside Santa Fe. Legal analysts have said prosecutors will struggle to win convictions without proof Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed knew live ammunition was present but took no precautions. Live ammunition is strictly forbidden on sets. The armorer testified to New Mexico's worker safety agency (OSHA) on Dec. 7 that the shooting might have been prevented had she had more time to train Baldwin.

Santa Fe prosecutors on Tuesday filed charges of two counts of involuntary manslaughter against Alec Baldwin for the fatal shooting on the set of the movie "Rust." Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer of the film, was also charged with the same two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Due to Baldwin's distractions, the training he received was estimated to be 30 minutes, according to the DA's statement. According to the probable cause statement, Baldwin has "asserted publicly that he is an '...expert...' in the realm of firearms and filmmaking." "Reed knew Baldwin required more training," which "could have prevented the fatal shooting," prosecutors said, citing a statement Gutierrez-Reed issued in her deposition.

☆ Analysis: Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting case could be tough for prosecutors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The most serious charge prosecutors are pursuing — which carries five years in jail — would require them to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Baldwin was more than just negligent. In announcing her intent to charge Baldwin, Carmack-Altwies said it was his responsibility to personally ensure the gun was safe to handle and would not fire. They said that criminal charges are rare even in accidental shooting deaths that take place in non-professional settings without safety protocols. And civil suits against Baldwin that are pending have claimed systemic cost-cutting led to dangerous conditions on set, allegations Baldwin and the film's production company have denied. But prosecutors face a much higher burden in a criminal case and will likely need to demonstrate extraordinary safety lapses across the board, legal experts said.

[1/2] Alec Baldwin arrives at the 2nd Annual NFL Honors in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy NicholsonJan 23 (Reuters) - Western movie "Rust" will continue filming with Alec Baldwin in the lead role, a lawyer for the production said Monday, days after prosecutors said they would charge the actor in the fatal shooting of the movie's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin will continue to play grandfather Harland Rust while Joel Souza will return as "Rust" director following his wounding in the October 2021 shooting, said Melina Spadone, an attorney for Rust Movie Productions. Baldwin in October reached a settlement of a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the Hutchins family under which Hutchins would take a production role in "Rust" and filming would resume this month. Baldwin has denied responsibility for the shooting, saying live ammunition should never have been allowed on set and weapons handlers were responsible for firearm safety.

☆ Who Is the Prosecutor Planning to Charge Alec Baldwin for the ‘Rust’ Shooting?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Elizabeth Findell | Katherine Sayre | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Before taking office two years ago, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies vowed to target the community’s worst criminal offenders, increase crime diversion programs, build trust with immigrant families, address a rape-kit backlog and crack down on gun crime. She will likely become best known as the woman who prosecuted Alec Baldwin.

Prosecutors will need a mountain of evidence to cast Alec Baldwin as a criminally negligent gunman, skeptical defense criminal lawyers said Friday, as Hollywood appeared to rally around the oft-polarizing actor. But prosecutors insist they have FBI lab reports that show Baldwin did fire the fatal round. "Is there some intentional act that placed that live round there that we know nothing about? She urged prosecutors to stop "blaming the victim" and rhetorically asked "how about investigating who put the live round into the gun?" "Nobody is asking who put the live round into the prop gun," tweeted Fisher, best known for her role in "Titanic."

☆ Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ Manslaughter Charges Put Spotlight on First-Term Prosecutor
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Elizabeth Findell | Katherine Sayre | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Analysis: Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting charges could be difficult to prove
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

They said that criminal charges are rare even in accidental shooting deaths that take place in non-professional settings without safety protocols. Host Alec Baldwin arrives at the 2nd Annual NFL Honors in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2, 2013. Experts interviewed by Reuters could not cite another instance in which criminal charges stemmed from an accidental shooting death on a film set. And civil suits against Baldwin that are pending have claimed systemic cost-cutting led to dangerous conditions on set, allegations Baldwin and the film's production company have denied. Involuntary manslaughter charges are most common in fatal traffic accidents involving extreme recklessness, such as intoxication or excessive speeding, according to experts.

☆ Alec Baldwin to Be Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter in Fatal ‘Rust’ Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Katherine Sayre | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Prosecutors plan to charge Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the movie “Rust” in New Mexico in 2021, the district attorney in Santa Fe said Thursday. The film’s armorer overseeing weapons, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, will also be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the incident, according to a statement from Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. The charges are expected to be filed by the end of the month.

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