Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, weapons handler for the film Rust, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
In 2021, a fatal shooting occurred on set while filming the Western film – which led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.
Actor Alec Baldwin shot the cinematographer while handling a gun which was mistakenly loaded with a live round into the revolver.
Last month, the armourer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna, after she accidentally loaded the gun with live rounds.
The shooting was the first time in modern cinema that a member of production was killed by live rounds being loaded into a gun.
Alec’s trial is set for July 10th, after he was indicted of involuntary manslaughter in January.
In the sentencing, New Mexico District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said: “I find that what you did constitutes a serious violent offence, it was committed in a physically violent manner.”
“A fatal gunshot done with your recklessness in the face of knowledge that your acts were reasonably likely to result in serious harm.”
“You were the armourer, the one that stood between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. You alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal weapon.”
“But for you, Ms Hutchins would be alive, a husband would have his partner and a little boy would have his mother.”
Hannah’s lawyer requested probation but it was denied as the full 18 months were given.
The prosecutor referenced phone calls she made in jail where she continuously put the blame on Alec Baldwin and others, as well as calling the jurors “idiots” and said the judges were “paid off.”
The weapons handler became emotional during the hearing and took to the stand before her sentencing
She said: “I beg you, please don’t give me more time”.
“I am saddened by the way the media sensationalised our traumatic tragedy and portrayed me as a complete monster, which has actually been the total opposite of what has been in my heart.”
“When I took on Rust, I was young and I was naive, but I took my job as seriously as I knew how to, despite not having proper time, resources and staffing. When things got tough, I just did my best to handle it.”
“…The jury has found me in part at fault for this god awful tragedy, but that doesn’t make me a monster, that makes me human.”
