Prosecutors allege Baldwin rushed crew members, ignored basic gun and film safety rules, and created an unsafe on-set environment leading to Hutchins’ death. Baldwin denies any wrongdoing, claiming he did not know the gun was loaded with a live bullet and denies pulling the trigger.
Other Court Rulings
In a separate ruling on Friday, Judge Sommer denied Baldwin’s motion to exclude some state witnesses, including “Rust” boom operator Zac Sneesby. Prosecutors assert that Sneesby witnessed the shooting and will testify that he saw Baldwin pull the trigger. Baldwin’s attorneys argued that the state’s late disclosure of Sneesby and other witnesses was intended to prevent Baldwin from preparing for trial, but the judge found no prejudice against Baldwin.
Judge Sommer may also rule on Baldwin’s motions to dismiss his indictment. His attorneys argue that the state cannot prove Baldwin knew the gun was loaded with live ammo and that the case should be dismissed because the gun was damaged during forensic tests.
Gutierrez-Reed’s Potential Testimony
Prosecutors had anticipated Gutierrez-Reed would testify that Baldwin was difficult to control on the “Rust” set and largely ignored gun safety training. This is consistent with what she told law enforcement and state occupational safety and health investigators shortly after the shooting. Prosecutors warned that if Gutierrez-Reed is not compelled to testify, Baldwin’s attorneys might introduce her previous statements to investigators, which could benefit Baldwin. For instance, she expressed regret for not thoroughly checking Baldwin’s gun before the shooting. If introduced, the state would not be able to cross-examine her at trial.
