An armorer who was on the set of The Last, where 42-year-old cinematographer Halina Hutchins was shot and killed in October 2021, has been sentenced to the maximum sentence.
Last month, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of manslaughter but acquitted of a lesser charge of tampering with evidence, Blaze News previously reported. As the armorer, Gutierrez-Reid was responsible for checking the safety of all ammunition and guns on set. She was also the person who loaded the weapon that fired the fatal shot with live ammunition.
Gutierrez-Reed, who was only 24 at the time of the shooting, sobbed throughout. sentencing hearing on monday. Her lawyer, Jason Bowles, argued that she was a “scapegoat” for the shooting, saying she “has endured far harsher collateral consequences than most defendants ever have to face.” “He will continue to endure this,” he said, requesting conditional release along with counseling. ”
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey was persuaded to recommend a lighter sentence for this “unprecedented case” until she learned that Gutierrez-Reed had apparently called jurors “idiots” and “idiots.” He said that it may have been. I recently received a phone call from prison.
Additionally, Gutierrez-Reed reportedly violated the terms of his release by drinking alcohol while awaiting trial. She also allegedly misled her prosecutor about her own work history and encouraged her mother to confront her prosecutor in the restroom of her courtroom. new york post report.
Gutierrez-Reed “continues to deny responsibility and blame others,” prosecutors said in a letter last week.
“I had really hoped that there would be a moment in this process for Mr. Gutierrez to take responsibility and express some level of genuine repentance. That moment never came. Mr. Gutierrez takes responsibility for his role in the film. “The death of Halina Hutchins continues to be denied,” Morrissey said at the hearing.
District Court Judge Mary Marlow Sommer agreed to give Gutierrez-Reed a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison for manslaughter in New Mexico, where “The Last” was filmed. The judge told the defendant: “Only you turned a safe weapon into a deadly weapon.” “But for you, a husband will have a wife, and a little boy will have a mother.”
Bowles’ defense had previously indicated his intention to appeal. Gutierrez-Reed has remained behind bars since his conviction.
Several of Hutchins’ loved ones gave shocking statements at the hearing, explaining how the loss continues to impact their lives. Emilia Mendieta, one of Hutchins’ close friends, claimed that the cause of Hutchins’ death was a “massive system failure” and that Gutierrez-Reed was also involved. “Why was there live ammunition on set? … That’s where Hannah Gutierrez-Reid failed Halina. It was her job to check the gun, check the bullets, make sure Halina was safe. It was work,” she said.
Family friend Stephen Metz said Halina’s widow, Matt Hutchins, “basically passed away” when his wife died. “There’s really no excuse. [for her death],” he added.
Actor Alec Baldwin also faces charges of manslaughter in connection with the incident. All evidence suggests that he fired the shot that killed Hutchins, but Baldwin denied pulling the trigger, instead claiming that his gun malfunctioned. His trial is scheduled for July.
David Halls, the first assistant director on The Last, was sentenced to probation after pledging to plead no contest to a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
After filming, filming for Rust was halted, but it was eventually scrapped. completed. A release date has not been announced. Matthew Hutchins was named executive producer as part of the wrongful death lawsuit settlement.
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