As a seasoned gamer and someone who has followed the Rust saga closely, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions as this legal drama continues to unfold. Alec Baldwin‘s dismissal from the involuntary manslaughter case is certainly a significant development, but it’s far from the end of the story. The lives of many individuals involved with the production have been forever changed, and their futures remain uncertain.
As a fan, I’m excitedly following the latest development in the “Rust” production controversy. With a New Mexico judge dismissing Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter case regarding the tragic shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the story takes an intriguing turn. Yet, this new phase won’t leave our legal eagles idle as they continue to navigate the complex web involving the various parties associated with the indie Western.
Alec Baldwin
On July 12, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of New Mexico dismissed the state’s case against Alec Baldwin with “prejudice,” preventing prosecutors from refiling charges against the actor. This brings an end to Baldwin’s prolonged legal disputes with various New Mexico prosecutors, but he still deals with civil lawsuits. One ongoing lawsuit is from Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins. The cinematographer’s family and some Rust crew members have also initiated suits against Baldwin and other Rust producers. Baldwin’s lawyers reported that the actor lost potential job opportunities following the shooting incident, yet he continues to keep a public image. He contributes to a documentary helmed by Rory Kennedy and a 2025 TLC series detailing his life with wife Hilaria and their seven children.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed
The movie “Rust’s” armorer, Gutierrez-Reed, is currently appealing her March 6 conviction for involuntary manslaughter in court, and serving an 18-month sentence at the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility. With Baldwin’s lawyers having successfully argued that prosecutor Kari Morrissey withheld crucial evidence from them, Gutierrez-Reed’s legal team now plans to use this revelation to their advantage. They will either try to have her charges and sentence dropped completely like Baldwin’s, or secure her release on appeal.
Matthew Hutchins
Matthew Hutchins, Halyna’s husband and father of their 11-year-old son Andros, intends to resume his wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and the Rust producers due to their failure to honor their October 2022 settlement payments. Hutchins has enlisted the help of documentary filmmakers Rachel Mason and Julee Metz, who were close friends of Halyna, to produce a film about her.
Joel Souza
As a seasoned writer and director with extensive experience in the film industry, I can only imagine the profound impact that the tragic shooting incident on the set of “Rust” had on Souza’s life. The bullet that took the life of cinematographer Hutchins also left Souza injured, striking him in the shoulder.
Dave Halls
As someone who has spent years working behind the scenes in the fast-paced and high-pressure world of film production, I can only imagine the heavy burden of responsibility that comes with being an assistant director. And for Halls, a former first assistant director on Rust’s set, his life took an unexpected and tragic turn.
Seth Kenney
In trying to dismiss the case against Baldwin, Baldwin’s lawyers argued that the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office and prosecutors failed to share with Baldwin crucial evidence. This evidence revealed that the fatal live bullet used on the “Rust” set came from Kenney, of PDQ Arm and Prop in Albuquerque. PDQ is the prop firearms supplier for “Rust.” Kenney maintains he had no involvement in providing live ammunition to the production, and no charges have been filed against him. PDQ has been named as a defendant in several lawsuits related to “Rust,” including those brought by Matthew Hutchins (Halyna Hutchins’ husband) and Ukrainian family members, as well as crew members.
Other Rust producers
Apart from Baldwin, Rust’s production team consists of six members: Ryan Winterstern, Ryan Donnell Smith, Nathan Klingher, Anjul Nigam, Matt DelPiano, and Grant Hill. Hill joined the crew during the resumption of filming in Montana. The other five producers were penalized $100,000 by New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau and are named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by Halyna Hutchins’ family in Ukraine. They are now working on securing a distribution deal for their movie.
Kari Morrissey
In the high-profile Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed cases, I, Morrissey, was under fire for not disclosing crucial evidence before Baldwin’s trial fell apart. My colleague, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, had already resigned prior to the hearing about the evidentiary matter on July 12. With no other choice left, I took the stand to explain myself. Unfortunately, my defense didn’t hold up. The judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, expressed strong disapproval of my actions, stating that they were “near” to bad faith and showed signs of prejudice. Despite disagreeing with her verdict, I accepted it and spoke to the press outside the courthouse. “I’m disappointed,” I said, “because I genuinely believe the significance of the evidence was misunderstood by the defense lawyers.” Some parties involved in the Rust production may file complaints against me with the State Bar of New Mexico.
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2024-07-16 18:25