A New Mexico judge on Tuesday rejected a request to throw out the involuntary manslaughter charge against armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed related to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021 on the “Rust” film set.
Public attention given to the accusation
Given the public attention given to the accusation, defense lawyer Jason Bowles disputed a claim made in a prosecution file that Gutierrez Reed was probably drunk on the day she loaded the gun for the scene practice, reports from CNN.
Kari Morrissey, the prosecutor who was rebutted, asserted that the criminal charge itself shows that the state thinks there is reason to suspect that Ms. Gutierrez acted negligently.
According to Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of the New Mexico State District Court, it is not essential to address the “extrajudicial statements by the media” at this time because the case is still in its basic stages.
We’re not even there yet, according to Marlowe Sommer, for you to claim that you’ve essentially corrupted a jury.
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No exceptional remedy like dismissal
Additionally, according to Jason Bowles, there are jurisdictional problems with the case because the Santa Fe D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies, who initially brought the charges against Gutierrez Reed, later resigned. The jurisdictional problems, according to Marlowe Sommer, have subsequently been resolved.
Marlowe Summer stated, “I think we stay the course,” adding that she did not believe the defense had shown “actual and substantial prejudice” that would warrant “an exceptional remedy like dismissal.”
The case’s preliminary hearing is scheduled to start on August 9.
A pretend gun that Alec Baldwin was holding during a practice fired a real round of ammunition, ending Hutchins’ life and stopping production on the western starring Baldwin.
Joel Souza, a director, was shot as well and hurt.
Ksl.com reported that acccording to fresh information that was brought to the notice of investigators and showed that the gun used in the incident had been changed, prosecutors announced in April that they were dropping the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, a person familiar with the case told CNN at the time.
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