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Although costs of involuntary manslaughter have been dropped against Alec Baldwin over the deadly capturing on the set of his film “Rust,” a brand new date was set for a judge to listen to proof in opposition to the movie’s armorer on the identical costs on Friday.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was accountable for all weapons and ammo on the set of the low-budget western in 2021 when Baldwin’s gun fired an actual bullet, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins throughout a rehearsal.
A preliminary listening to for Gutierrez-Reed has been scheduled to happen from August 9 by way of the sixteenth in New Mexico’s First Judicial District Court.
The listening to will permit prosecutors to showcase some key witnesses they’ve gathered, who the protection can then cross-examine for the judge to find out whether or not the case can head to trial, which may happen in the identical month.
Prosecutors accuse her of “sloppy mishandling of firearms,” resulting in the tragedy.
The daughter of famed film armorer Thell Reed had solely ever labored on one different set earlier than she was employed for the catastrophic “Rust” capturing.
The rookie had been accountable for initially loading the classic Colt .45 revolver Baldwin finally used within the October 2021 catastrophe.
But she then allegedly left the church set the place the scene was being filmed and was not current when the life-ending shot was fired.
She claimed later to police nobody notified her the weapon was getting used on the set.
Cops additionally obtained textual content messages which confirmed Reed had tried to use live ammunition on set throughout a previous movie manufacturing, though she maintained the “Rust” revolver was solely loaded with dummy bullets.
Immediately following the capturing, investigators who scoured the “Rust” set described discovering a mix of stay rounds and dummy bullets on the set, a critical security violation, which fell beneath Gutierrez-Reed’s purview.
Earlier on the day of the capturing, the ammunition “was left on a cart on the set, not secured,” whereas the crew took a lunch break, earlier police paperwork mentioned, one other crimson flag.
Reed’s attorneys have mentioned: “The new particular prosecutor staff has taken a really diligent and thorough strategy … They are in search of the reality and we’re additionally … We absolutely count on on the finish of this course of that Hannah may even be exonerated.”
Baldwin’s attorneys confirmed Thursday that the Santa Fe County District Attorney’s workplace had dropped criminal charges against the actor.
“We are happy with the choice to dismiss the case in opposition to Alec Baldwin and we encourage a correct investigation into the information and circumstances of this tragic accident,” his attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro mentioned in an announcement to The Post.
Special prosecutors dealing with the “Rust” shooting investigation conceded “new information have been revealed” which known as for “additional investigation and forensic evaluation” that resulted within the dismissal of the costs.
But the particular prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis noted they “may be refiled,” pending the end result of varied exams.
Sources told ABC news the prosecutors had concluded the gun Baldwin had in his arms had worn joints and its set off wasn’t functioning correctly, and the gun may very well be fired with out placing strain on it.
Baldwin, 65, has maintained he didn’t pull the weapon’s set off and had pleaded not guilty to the charges in opposition to him.
“Rust” director Joel Souza was standing behind Hutchins they usually have been each viewing the digital camera angle as Baldwin regarded instantly ahead within the shot, pulled the gun and fired.
Souza — who’s again on set in Montana this week to finish the film — suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder however survived.
Hutchins was handled on the scene earlier than she was rushed to the University of New Mexico Hospital, however couldn’t be saved.
Despite Baldwin claiming he had by no means pulled the set off, FBI investigators beforehand decided there was no different method the shot may have been have been fired.
Filming for the movie began in Montana this week. Exclusive photos obtained by The Post confirmed Baldwin and Souza in snowy Montana Friday.
