‘Rust’ Armorer Doesn’t Have To Testify At Alec Baldwin’s Involuntary Manslaughter Trial, Judge Rules; Actor Fails Again To Get Case Dismissed
deadline.comAlec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial next month for the fatal 2021 shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is still on, a New Mexico judge ruled today.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer also decided that the indie Western’s convicted armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed does not have to testify at the actor/producer’s trial.
In a sometimes-heated virtual hearing this morning on yet another failed move by the defense to get the case dismissed, New Mexico state Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer rejected the prosecution motion to have the Rust armorer be a witness with immunity in the July 9 starting trial. “I haven’t heard of anything that she might testify to that someone else could not testify to,” Judge Sommer said Friday after hearing argument from Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, defense lawyer Heath Leblanc and Gutierrez-Reed’s main attorney Jason Bowles. “I’m not going to do a mini trial within a trial,” the judge added of the prosecution’s contention that they could hold the currently incarcerated Gutierrez-Reed in contempt if she refused to answer questions on the stand.
Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in a New Mexico state prison on April 15 after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on March 6.
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