New Mexico vs. Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed - Shooting death of Halyna Hutchins on "RUST" movie set *CASE DISMISSED*

‘Rust’ Prosecutors Make It Easy to Find All of Alec Baldwin’s Court Docs

Due to the "high volume of requests," New Mexico authorities are putting everything they have online.

www.indiewire.com

Brian Welk
Feb 2, 2023 2:35 pm

You normally wouldn’t expect this level of accessibility from a government bureaucracy, but the demand to see Alec Baldwin’s public court documents in the “Rust” case have been so high that authorities are just putting it all online. And they’re sending out press releases touting the portal.

New Mexico district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, who formally charged Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with two counts of involuntary manslaughter each on Tuesday, has now launched an online portal via the state’s courts. She’s now asking media and the public to access anything and everything pertaining to the “Rust” case there.

If you visit nmcourts.gov, there’s a tab along the left rail that says “High Profile Cases.” Beneath it are all the criminal court documents for the cases against Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed and “Rust” assistant director David Halls, who had already agreed to a plea deal (and was subsequently charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon). It’s an easy-access, one-stop shop for all your information on one of the most troubling stories to rock Hollywood in years!

 

[Guess Who]

Technically, Baldwin was the last piece in a chain that should've known better. I don't see him as culpable as the others. Still...

He was a producer on it. He has a lot of say and was actually near the top of the chain.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Involuntary manslaughter allegation against Alec Baldwin advances toward trial with new court ruling

A New Mexico judge has rejected a request by Alec Baldwin to dismiss the sole criminal charge against him in a fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.”

apnews.com

BY MORGAN LEE
Updated 8:12 PM EDT, May 24, 2024

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge has rejected a request by Alec Baldwin to dismiss the sole criminal charge against him in a fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust,” keeping the case on track for a trial this summer.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Friday upheld an indictment charging Baldwin with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. The judge rejected defense arguments that prosecutors flouted the rules of grand jury proceedings to divert attention away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.

Special prosecutors have denied accusations that the grand jury proceedings were marred and say Baldwin made “shameless” attempts to escape culpability, highlighting contradictions in his statements to law enforcement, to workplace safety regulators and in a televised interview.

Friday’s decision removes one of the last hurdles for prosecutors to put Baldwin on trial in July.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Convicted Rust Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Says She Wants Alec Baldwin "In Jail" Per Prosecutors - E! Online

Convicted Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has been called as a witness for Alec Baldwin's upcoming trial, while prosecutors say she expressed her desire for him to be jailed.

www.eonline.com

By HAYLEY SANTAFLORENTINA
JUN 05, 2024 4:13 PM

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is being called to the stand.

Alec Baldwin's legal team has requested the Rust armorer—who was sentenced in April to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter—as a witness in the 30 Rock alum's upcoming trial regarding the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, per legal documents obtained by E! News.

However, prior to submitting the request, special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey filed court documents, obtained by People, which cited recorded prison phone calls in which Gutierrez-Reed, among other statements, said she'd like to see Baldwin jailed.

The April documents were filed in response to Gutierrez-Reed's request for a conditional discharge—which would give her probation instead of jail time—and summarized the calls the 26-year-old allegedly had with family members, according to People. The outlet noted the calls were cited as part of Morrissey's attempt to prove Gutierrez-Reed showed a "total failure to accept responsibility."

Among the alleged conversation details is Morrissey's claim that the armorer called her a "bitch," that she referred to jury members as "a--holes," that Gutierrez-Reed is "mad that the whole thing got pinned on her" and that she "wants them to put Alec Baldwin in jail."

When asked for comment, Gutierrez-Reed's attorney Jason Bowles told E! News, "It's really unfair to characterize or cherry pick comments someone may or may not have made while they were upset and very recently incarcerated. But, many aspects of this prosecution have displayed no concern for fairness in favor of a win at all costs attitude."

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More at link. ~Summer

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Alec Baldwin faces new lawsuit for ‘Rust’ shooting from victim’s family

Alec Baldwin faces new lawsuit for ‘Rust’ shooting from victim’s family

www.daily-sun.com

Agencies, Los Angeles​

Publish: Tuesday, 11 June, 2024 11:57

Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin‘s legal problems are mounting as he faces a new lawsuit stemming from the deadly shooting on the set of his movie, “Rust.”

Baldwin, who is scheduled to stand trial this summer on charges of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza, is now facing a civil suit filed by Hutchins’ family and a member of the crew. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has maintained that he never pulled the gun’s trigger.

The lawsuit, filed by Hutchins’ mother, father and sister as well as Mamie Mitchell, who worked as the script supervisor on “Rust,” accuses Baldwin of assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress and accuses a much larger group of people associated with the movie of negligence.

Hannah Gutierrez, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in

March for her role in the deadly shooting as the film’s armorer, is also named in the lawsuit, along with others involved with the film who testified at her trial, including assistant director David Halls, prop master Sarah Zachry and ammunition supplier Seth Kenney.

Olga Solovey and Anatolii Androsovych, Hutchins’ parents, and her sister, Svetlana Zemko, all live in Kyiv, Ukraine, and filed the lawsuit with Mitchell, who as the script supervisor had been standing next to Hutchins when she was shot.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

https://www.reuters.com/legal/new-evidence-baldwin-was-reckless-with-gun-before-rust-shooting-prosecutors-say-2024-06-19/

By Andrew Hay
June 19, 20245:53 PM EDT
Updated 13 hours ago

June 19 (Reuters) - New evidence shows that Alec Baldwin was reckless with a revolver before the weapon fired a live round that killed "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, prosecutors alleged ahead of the actor's July manslaughter trial.

The evidence, which includes images and video from crew and a set photographer, shows Baldwin pointed his gun at a crew member and fired a blank round, held his finger on the trigger when not supposed to and engaged in horseplay with the weapon, special state prosecutors said in a Monday filing.

Baldwin's legal team said in a Monday motion, opens new tab to dismiss charges that prosecutors had built their case around the unproven hypothesis the gun was properly functioning and could not have gone off unless he pulled the trigger, an act the actor denies.

Baldwin's legal team argue the gun was modified, allowing it to fire without a trigger pull, an issue that has become central to the 17-month-old case.

<snip>

Among apparently new evidence that prosecutors intend to show at the July 9 trial is an image by set photographer Karen Kuehn taken minutes before a 911 call on the shooting.
In the photo, Baldwin appears to have his finger inside the trigger guard and his thumb on the hammer, prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Erlinda Johnson said in the filing.

A video clip taken by script supervisor Mamie Mitchell a couple of hours prior to the shooting appears to show Baldwin cock the gun and possibly pull the trigger, the prosecutors said.

In a further unspecified video on the day of the shooting Baldwin is asked to point the revolver left of camera and cocks the gun, despite not being asked to. There is some evidence he also pulls the trigger of the gun, prosecutors alleged.

 

[Kimster]

Maybe a whole bunch of people will learn gun safety from this trial! This is crazy. Even before I took my firearm training I knew not to play with guns.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

Maybe a whole bunch of people will learn gun safety from this trial! This is crazy. Even before I took my firearm training I knew not to play with guns.

I thought Baldwin couldn't be blamed for what happened, but his playing around with the gun makes a different story.

The one thing in his favor is he pointed it at somebody and pulled the trigger, firing a blank. So he obviously thought the gun didn't have live rounds in it.

 

[Guess Who]

I thought Baldwin couldn't be blamed for what happened, but his playing around with the gun makes a different story.

The one thing in his favor is he pointed it at somebody and pulled the trigger, firing a blank. So he obviously thought the gun didn't have live rounds in it.

But still goes totally against his claim that he knows not to aim at anybody and didn't.

I'm still curious as to who's decision it was to have absolutely anything loaded into that gun. That's the person I blame the most since it was 100% non necessary.

 

[Kimster]

I thought Baldwin couldn't be blamed for what happened, but his playing around with the gun makes a different story.

The one thing in his favor is he pointed it at somebody and pulled the trigger, firing a blank. So he obviously thought the gun didn't have live rounds in it.

I don't see any reason to believe that he thought there were real bullets in it, no. But you ALWAYS check before pulling the trigger - I don't care WHAT your job is on the set. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it!

I think involuntary manslaughter is a fair charge for this case, from what we've seen.

 

[Guess Who]

I don't see any reason to believe that he thought there were real bullets in it, no. But you ALWAYS check before pulling the trigger - I don't care WHAT your job is on the set. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it!

I think involuntary manslaughter is a fair charge for this case, from what we've seen.

Plus, he's on tape stating he knows gun safety rules but is also evidently on tape flaunting those same rules.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I'm surprised they don't have an obvious color distinction for blanks.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

New Mexico judge rejects request to compel new testimony from movie armorer in Alec Baldwin trial

A New Mexico judge says prosecutors can't use immunity to compel a movie set armorer to testify in the involuntary manslaughter trial of actor Alec Baldwin who fatally shot a cinematographer during rehearsal for the Western movie “Rust.”.

www.click2houston.com

Morgan Lee
Associated Press
Published: June 20, 2024 at 11:01 PM

SANTA FE, N.M. – A New Mexico judge is scheduled to consider at a Friday hearing whether to compel a movie set armorer to testify at actor Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal shooting nearly three years ago of a cinematographer during rehearsal for the Western movie “Rust.”

Prosecutors are seeking a court order for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to testify with immunity for her against related prosecution. Gutierrez-Reed was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the shooting of Halyna Hutchins at a movie-set ranch.

Baldwin figured prominently at that previous trial, which highlighted gun-safety protocols and his authority as a co-producer and the lead actor on “Rust.”

“The jury should hear all of the information Ms. Gutierrez has regarding Mr. Baldwin, both exculpatory and inculpatory,” special prosecutors Mari Morrissey and Erlinda Johnson said in court filings. “Counsel for both sides should be permitted to fully cross-examine Ms. Gutierrez.”

Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed both oppose efforts to compel her testimony.

At a pretrial interview in May, Gutierrez-Reed exercised her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions. Her attorneys say compelling her to testify, even with immunity, would “virtually eliminate” the possibility of a fair appeal and possible retrial. She also is fighting a separate charge of carrying a firearm into a Santa Fe bar weeks before the fatal shooting.

Also during Friday's hearing, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer is expected to weigh two defense requests to scuttle the trial on arguments that Baldwin had no reason to believe the gun could contain live ammunition and that it was heavily damaged during FBI forensic testing before it could be examined for possible modifications that might exonerate the actor.

“The government took the most critical evidence in this case — the firearm — and destroyed it by repeatedly and pointlessly striking it with a mallet,” defense attorneys said in court filings. “Government agents knew that the firearm would not survive.”

 

[Cousin Dupree]

New Mexico judge rejects request to compel new testimony from movie armorer in Alec Baldwin trial

A New Mexico judge says prosecutors can't use immunity to compel a movie set armorer to testify in the involuntary manslaughter trial of actor Alec Baldwin who fatally shot a cinematographer during rehearsal for the Western movie “Rust.”.

www.click2houston.com

Morgan Lee
Associated Press
Published: June 20, 2024 at 11:01 PM

SANTA FE, N.M. – A New Mexico judge is scheduled to consider at a Friday hearing whether to compel a movie set armorer to testify at actor Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal shooting nearly three years ago of a cinematographer during rehearsal for the Western movie “Rust.”

Prosecutors are seeking a court order for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to testify with immunity for her against related prosecution. Gutierrez-Reed was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the shooting of Halyna Hutchins at a movie-set ranch.

Baldwin figured prominently at that previous trial, which highlighted gun-safety protocols and his authority as a co-producer and the lead actor on “Rust.”

“The jury should hear all of the information Ms. Gutierrez has regarding Mr. Baldwin, both exculpatory and inculpatory,” special prosecutors Mari Morrissey and Erlinda Johnson said in court filings. “Counsel for both sides should be permitted to fully cross-examine Ms. Gutierrez.”

Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed both oppose efforts to compel her testimony.

At a pretrial interview in May, Gutierrez-Reed exercised her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions. Her attorneys say compelling her to testify, even with immunity, would “virtually eliminate” the possibility of a fair appeal and possible retrial. She also is fighting a separate charge of carrying a firearm into a Santa Fe bar weeks before the fatal shooting.

Also during Friday's hearing, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer is expected to weigh two defense requests to scuttle the trial on arguments that Baldwin had no reason to believe the gun could contain live ammunition and that it was heavily damaged during FBI forensic testing before it could be examined for possible modifications that might exonerate the actor.

“The government took the most critical evidence in this case — the firearm — and destroyed it by repeatedly and pointlessly striking it with a mallet,” defense attorneys said in court filings. “Government agents knew that the firearm would not survive.”

I wonder if they really did that. I don't know if it helps Baldwin, it's just a weird thing to do.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Baldwin hearing to pick back up Monday after audio issues

Jun. 21—A daylong pretrial motion hearing in the criminal case against actor and producer Alec Baldwin adjourned Friday without a ruling on some of the motions after an expert witness testifying virtually repeatedly said he could not hear the questions being posed by Baldwin's lawyer. State...

www.yahoo.com

Baldwin hearing to pick back up Monday after audio issues​

Phaedra Haywood, The Santa Fe New Mexican
Fri, June 21, 2024 at 11:35 PM EDT·6 min read

Jun. 21—A daylong pretrial motion hearing in the criminal case against actor and producer Alec Baldwin adjourned Friday without a ruling on some of the motions after an expert witness testifying virtually repeatedly said he could not hear the questions being posed by Baldwin's lawyer.

State District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said she would reconvene the virtual hearing — which had already gone on for about eight hours — on Monday. She told special prosecutor Kari Morrissey to ensure that when the hearing recommences that prosecution firearm expert Lucien Haag will be prepared to participate fully in the proceeding.

"This cannot happen again, or I will entertain confrontation issues," the judge said, after Alex Spiro, one of Baldwin's multiple defense attorneys, objected to continuing the hearing under the circumstances.

Baldwin is slated to stand trial next month on an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the 2021 on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed by a bullet that came from a gun Baldwin was using during a walk-through of a scene in his movie Rust, which was being filmed south of Santa Fe.

Haag had been testifying in connection with a defense motion asking the court to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin based on the state's "destruction of evidence." The motion is based on the argument the revolver Baldwin held during the scene was damaged during FBI testing authorized by the state prior to Gutierrez-Reed's trial.

FBI firearms expert Bryce Ziegler initially said the gun could not fire without the trigger being pulled, though he has qualified the opinion, saying it might have been possible for the weapon to discharge without a trigger pull under certain limited circumstances if it were fully loaded and the hammer was resting on the primer of a bullet, something the gun's manual warns against.

The judge did rule on several other pretrial motions during Friday's hearing, including denying Baldwin's motion asking the court to dismiss the case based on his argument the state has failed to state a criminal defense against him because the charge requires the state to prove he knew his actions posed a substantial risk of harm.

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More at link. ~Summer

 

[Summer_Breeze]

'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed denied immunity to testify at Alec Baldwin's trial

A judge refused to grant immunity to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, to testify at Alec Baldwin's trial in July.

www.usatoday.com

Andrew Hay, Jonathan Allen and Donna Bryso
Reuters
June 21, 2024


A New Mexico judge on Friday denied the prosecution's request that convicted "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed be given immunity to testify at the July trial of Alec Baldwin for the 2021 fatal shooting of the movie's cinematographer.

Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March for the on-set killing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and was what New Mexico Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey called "an incredibly important witness" against Baldwin. Prosecutors are trying to show Baldwin was negligent in his use of a revolver that fired a live round into Hutchins.

Morrissey said during a hearing Friday that she still might call Gutierrez-Reed to the stand, though the judge said it was clear from preliminary interviews and from her lawyer's arguments Friday that Gutierrez would not answer questions on the stand, with or without immunity.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Alec Baldwin’s case on track for trial in July as judge denies request to dismiss

The involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin is on track for trial in July after a judge denied a request to dismiss the case on complaints that key evidence was damaged by the FBI during forensic testing.

apnews.com

BY MORGAN LEE
Updated 8:28 PM EDT, June 28, 2024

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A court ruling on Friday put an involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin on track for trial in early July as a judge denied a request to dismiss the case on complaints that key evidence was damaged by the FBI during forensic testing.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sided with prosecutors in rejecting a motion to dismiss the case.

Defense attorneys had argued that the gun in the fatal shooting was heavily damaged during FBI forensic testing before it could be examined for possible modifications or problems that might exonerate the actor-producer.

The ruling removes one of the last hurdles before prosecutors can bring the case to trial with jury selection scheduled for July 9 in Santa Fe.

At trial, attorneys plan to call on witnesses from a court-approved list of more than 60 people. They include film director Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting as well as assistant director Dave Halls, who earlier pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon, and an array of first responders, investigators, firearms experts and close-range witnesses to the shooting.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Attorney for 'Rust" armorer claims key evidence hidden by prosecutors

Evidence comes to light during Monday hearing for Baldwin.

www.koat.com

Updated: 9:42 PM MDT Jun 28, 2024
Sasha Lenninger
Reporter/Anchor

SANTA FE, N.M. —
The attorney for Rust armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, claims prosecutors hid information and new evidence that could help prove that the gun used in deadly movie set shooting could have fired without Alec Baldwin having to pull the trigger.

Jason Bowels has filed a 38-page motion for Gutierrez-Reed to be released from prison and that she gets a new trial because of the new evidence that had been discovered.

According to court documents, Bowels claimed prosecutors were sitting on exculpatory evidence during the trial of Gutierrez-Reed. A jury found her guilty in March of involuntary manslaughter for the on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. A judge then handed down the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

In the documents, Bowles claimed reports of the examination of a gun, a key piece of evidence during the trial, were never shared with him. The findings recently came to light during a hearing on Monday with Alex Spiro, the attorney for Baldwin, and one of the state's firearm experts who testified during the trial of Gutierrez-Reed.

During Monday's hearing, Spiro questioned firearm expert Luke Haag about his report.

In those reports, Haag and another expert came to the conclusion that the firearm used on the movie set contained unexplained toolmarks on critical surfaces of the trigger and sear which were likely not the result of the damage incurred during the FBI's impact testing and do not appear to be the original manufacturing marks or use and abuse toolmarks based n irregular orientation.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

Attorney for 'Rust" armorer claims key evidence hidden by prosecutors

Evidence comes to light during Monday hearing for Baldwin.

www.koat.com

Updated: 9:42 PM MDT Jun 28, 2024
Sasha Lenninger
Reporter/Anchor

SANTA FE, N.M. —
The attorney for Rust armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, claims prosecutors hid information and new evidence that could help prove that the gun used in deadly movie set shooting could have fired without Alec Baldwin having to pull the trigger.

Jason Bowels has filed a 38-page motion for Gutierrez-Reed to be released from prison and that she gets a new trial because of the new evidence that had been discovered.

According to court documents, Bowels claimed prosecutors were sitting on exculpatory evidence during the trial of Gutierrez-Reed. A jury found her guilty in March of involuntary manslaughter for the on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. A judge then handed down the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

In the documents, Bowles claimed reports of the examination of a gun, a key piece of evidence during the trial, were never shared with him. The findings recently came to light during a hearing on Monday with Alex Spiro, the attorney for Baldwin, and one of the state's firearm experts who testified during the trial of Gutierrez-Reed.

During Monday's hearing, Spiro questioned firearm expert Luke Haag about his report.

In those reports, Haag and another expert came to the conclusion that the firearm used on the movie set contained unexplained toolmarks on critical surfaces of the trigger and sear which were likely not the result of the damage incurred during the FBI's impact testing and do not appear to be the original manufacturing marks or use and abuse toolmarks based n irregular orientation.

So? It was loaded with live ammunition and it was her job to be sure it wasn't.

 

[Guess Who]

So? It was loaded with live ammunition and it was her job to be sure it wasn't.

yep.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Alec Baldwin Wanted to Ride a Horse, but ‘Rust’ Safety Adviser Said No: ‘There Was a Bit of Yelling’

Alec Baldwin resisted a safety adviser's warning not to ride a horse at full gallop when 'Rust' resumed. Prosecutors want to use that at trial.

variety.com

Jul 3, 2024 9:00am PT
By Gene Maddaus

“Rust” resumed filming in Montana, 18 months after Alec Baldwin accidentally shot the film’s cinematographer while preparing for a scene at a New Mexico ranch.

Naturally, the producers were focused on safety, forbidding the use of any functional firearms on set, and hiring two veteran safety officers to oversee the completion of filming.

Now one of those officers — Paul Jordan — is set to testify against Baldwin at his upcoming manslaughter trial in Santa Fe, saying that the actor resisted advice not to ride a horse at full gallop.

“There was a little bit of yelling at times, insisting he could do certain things that everyone else felt he couldn’t do,” Jordan testified in a pre-trial interview.

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More at link. ~Summer