Prosecutors want 'Rust's armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed - who is in the process of appealing her own conviction for involuntary manslaughter - to be forced to testify at Alec Baldwin's trial.
Prosecutors want 'Rust's armourer to be forced to testify at Alec Baldwin's trial.
The 68-year-old actor has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after the prop gun he was holding discharged and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the western in October 2021, and the court have been asked to order Hannah Gutierrez-Reed - who is serving an 18-month jail sentence after being convicted of the same charge in March - to give evidence.
The weapons expert, who has appealed her conviction, appeared on recent witness lists submitted to the court by Alec's team ahead of his trial next month.
A motion filed by special prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Erlinda Johnson and obtained by People magazine stated: “Presumably Defendant Baldwin named Ms. Gutierrez as a witness so his counsel can obtain potentially exculpatory information."
However, during a pre-trial interview on 14 May, Hannah “asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege to all substantive questions".
The Fifth Amendment allows a person to exercise their right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves.
As a result, the special prosecutors are asking the court to grant "use immunity", which would mean whatever Hannah said during the trial couldn't be used against her during her own appeal.
They warned: "[If Gutierrez-Reed] is not granted use immunity the defendant will likely attempt to have her previous statements admitted…This requires the defendant to demonstrate that Ms. Gutierrez is unavailable due to the assertion of her Fifth Amendment privilege.”
This would mean Alec's lawyers could use clips of Hannah in her previous police interviews, rather than putting her on the stand in court.
The 'Boss Baby' star has insisted he never pulled the trigger and did not know the gun mistakenly contained live ammunition, and legal expert Emily D. Baker, a former Deputy District Attorney, explained he would benefit from this.
She explained to People: “In her interviews, she's very clear saying she should have checked [the gun] better.
"Those types of statements where she's accepting responsibility [are helpful]."
She explained adding Hannah to the witness list was a shrewd move.
She said: “She would be able to plead the Fifth, is then unavailable and then he can use some of the clips.”
But if only interview clips are shown, prosecutors would be unable to question Hannah and get testimony that would potentially help their case.
The motion stated: “Ms. Gutierrez would testify that Mr. Baldwin was inattentive during the firearms training session she conducted with him [and] would become upset and have emotional fits.
“The jury should hear all of the information Ms. Gutierrez has regarding Mr. Baldwin."
Jason Bowles, one of Hannah's attorneys, pledged to oppose the motion.
The special prosecutors have filed an expedited request for a hearing which will allow Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to rule on the matter.
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Oasis fans hoping to get tickets for the band's reunion shows are being asked a trivia question to secure access to a pre-sale ballot.
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
There isn't a lot of subtlety in this madcap animated comedy, which is more aimed...
Anne is at a time in her life when her future is really starting to...
What happens when a baby takes the top position? Seven-year-old Tim Templeton was doing just...
Warren Beatty writes, directs and stars in the new movie Rules Don't Apply. Marla Mabrey...
Dr. Bennet Omalu is a pathologist who loves his job and, in many ways, the...
Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie brings a dark and gritty tone to this larger-than-life franchise. Along with...
The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) have been active for years, but it's time has run...
Despite their countless missions, most of which deemed impossible, the IMF is closing down. Considered...