A US court sentenced a prop maker who confused blank cartridges with live cartridges

In the United States, the verdict was announced for prop maker Hannah Guterres-Reid, who worked on the set of the action movie “Rust” starring Alec Baldwin. Due to her oversight, the gun on the set turned out to be loaded not with blanks, but with live ammunition. A female camera operator was killed and another member of the film crew was injured. Guterres-Reed recognized guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The tragedy occurred on the set of a Hollywood western on October 21, 2021. According to the plot, the leading actor Alec Baldwin had to shoot a pistol. He received a pistol from the prop man, pointed it at the camera and fired. It turned out that the cartridges in the barrel were live. The bullet hit cameraman Galina Hutchins in the chest, the wound was fatal. Director Joel Souza was also wounded and hospitalized. Filming was stopped during the investigation.

Hannah Guterres-Reid was responsible for the props, including the weapons, used in the filming. Prosecution statedthat other live ammunition was found on the set and that Guterres-Reid failed in her duties by failing to check the safety of the props, resulting in the death of a person. The defense asked the court to impose a suspended sentence, arguing that safety rules on the set were repeatedly violated by other members of the film crew, and a combination of many circumstances led to the tragic incident.

Alec Baldwin is also charged with involuntary manslaughter. The court is scheduled to hear his case in July this year.