“Gutierrez-Reed showed no emotion as the jury foreman read the verdicts. She removed her necklace before a corrections officer took her into custody. The judge ordered her held pending sentencing,” NBC reported.
The jury also acquitted 26-year-old Gutierrez-Reed of tampering with evidence. Prosecutors alleged that after a police interview on the day of the tragedy, October 21, 2021, she passed a “small bag” to someone to avoid detection of the drug.
During closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey told the jury that the woman “was negligent, careless and thoughtless.” She added that after the fatal accident, she was “more concerned about her career” and less about the victims.
According to the defendant’s attorney, Jason Bowles, prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client was responsible for bringing live ammunition to the set. He argued that Alec Baldwin was ultimately responsible for Hutchins’ death. He also claimed that the fault lies elsewhere and that Gutierrez-Reed is being used as a scapegoat.
“I assume that the cause of (the cinematographer’s) death was Mr. Baldwin’s departure from the script. Nobody knew that there would be live action on the set,” argued Bowles.
He questioned how live ammunition got onto the set and alleged that the film’s production team created a “chaotic and dangerous environment” that left Gutierrez-Reed in “really difficult conditions.” In his opinion, Baldwin failed to follow common-sense safety rules on set when he held the gun and acted unpredictably when he pointed it at Hutchins.
“Gutierrez-Reed could not have predicted what Baldwin would do. It was not in the script, it was unforeseeable. Management was responsible for the safety oversights, not Hannah,” the lawyer said.
He asked the court to allow Gutierrez-Reed to remain free until sentencing, emphasizing that she voluntarily appeared at each hearing.
However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer refused and ordered her remanded in custody.