The armorer who loaded the weapon that a cinematographer on the set of the Alec Baldwin movie rest caused his death, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by an American court on Monday.
The judge found that Hannah Gutierrez showed no remorse for the death of Halyna Hutchins during the filming on the set of the Western movie in October 2021.
Judge Mary Marlowe found Gutierrez to be the “one who was responsible for converting a safe weapon into a deadly one, as the armor, the crucial link between safety and danger.
“Hutchins would have lived if it hadn’t been for you. A man would still have his life partner and a boy his mother.”
Gutierrez’s 10-day trial for involuntary manslaughter heard how the 26-year-old, despite repeatedly failing to follow basic safety rules, left guns unattended and allowed actors – including Baldwin – to pass guns around swing.
This court also heard how she was responsible for the presence of six live cartridges – prohibited on a film set – and how she loaded one of them into the Colt .45 firearm used by Baldwin.
The weapon was fired while the actor was preparing for a scene in a log cabin. Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded.
Hutchins died because of a confluence of safety violations that began with Gutierrez allowing the dangerous cartridges onto the film set, loading them into a weapon and telling those involved it was safe, prosecutor Kari Morrissey said during sentencing.
“That behavior without responsibility or remorse deserves a sentence of 18 months.”
No remorse
Morrissey told the judge that since her conviction, Gutierrez has made about 200 calls from jail complaining that she is being unfairly victimized.
“Rather than accept responsibility, she chose to place the blame on the witnesses who testified against her – me, you, the jurors, the doctor and the paramedics who tried to save Hutchins’ life,” Morrissey said. said.
“Her jail calls … tell us who Gutierrez really is.”
Gutierrez sobbed as she pleaded with the court for probation, rather than jail time, but still insisted she was not entirely to blame.
“I was young and naive, but I took my work as seriously as I knew how, even though I didn’t have the right time, resources and staff.
“The jury found that I am partially guilty of this tragedy, but that does not make me a monster. It makes me human,” she said.
The judge rejected it.
“I didn’t hear you accept responsibility,” Sommers said.
“You said you were sorry, but not for what you did.
“It was your lawyer who had to tell the court that you were remorseful. The word ‘remorse’, a deep regret arising from a feeling of guilt for past wrongs; it’s not you.”
Baldwin’s trial on a similar charge begins in July. He denies guilt.
If convicted, Baldwin could also potentially be sentenced to 18 months in prison.
