Convicted 'Rust' armorer wants Alec Baldwin 'in jail' over fatal shooting of cinematographer
The convicted armorer of Rust—the movie in which lead actor and director Alec Baldwin accidentally shot its cinematographer Halyna Hutchins to death on set and led to him facing involuntary manslaughter cases—wants to see the actor "in jail."
People Magazine reported that Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was convicted of manslaughter last March, made the statement in recorded prison calls according to court documents that Kari Morrissey, one of the case's special prosecutors, filed in April.
The documents outlined prosecutors' objection to Reed's request for a conditional discharge, i.e., probation instead of a prison sentence.
The records also didn't contain transcripts of the calls but rather summaries. They also aimed to show that Reed displayed "a total failure to accept responsibility."
“Hannah wants them to put Alec Baldwin in jail also,” according to a summary of one call.
In another call, "Hannah says that if she is subpoenaed to Baldwin’s trial she will not show up.”
In other conversations, Reed allegedly called Morrissey a "b*tch," referred to members of the jury as "a*******," and said she's "mad that the whole got pinned on her."
Reed, who's facing 18 months in prison, is appealing her conviction.
Baldwin's lawyers previously put her on their witness list, but in a pretrial interview invoked the Fifth Amendment, which protects against self-incrimination.
Prosecutors have asked the court to force her to testify at Baldwin’s trial in July and grant her “use immunity"; anything she may say won't be used against her.
If she doesn't testify, Baldwin's lawyers could then show clips of her police interviews where she allegedly said she should've checked the gun better.
Emily Baker, former Los Angeles deputy district attorney, told People that such "types of statements" are "accepting responsibility," which is then "beneficial to Baldwin."
Baker said Reed being on Baldwin's witness list is also a "shrewd legal move."
"She would be able to plead the Fifth, is then unavailable, and then he can use some of the clips," Baker said.
Baldwin was holding a prop gun on set when it discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. He insisted that he didn’t pull the trigger and knew the gun accidentally had live ammunition.
Dave Halls, the safety coordinator and assistant director who handed Baldwin the loaded gun, agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to six months probation.
Baldwin pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges. He faces two alternative counts of involuntary manslaughter: one involving "negligent use of a firearm" and another involving acting "without due caution or circumspection."
It will be up to the jury to decide whether to convict him on one or the other, or neither (but not both).
The charges relate to the action and not to the oversight of the movie. This means he is being held culpable as an actor, not as a producer.
Filming of Rust was halted by the tragedy but resumed last year. Souza also returned as director.