On June 21, 2024, a New Mexico judge denied prosecutors’ request to grant Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed use immunity and compel her to testify at Alec Baldwin’s involuntary-manslaughter trial. Gutierrez-Reed had invoked her Fifth Amendment privilege during questioning; the judge said other witnesses could fill most of the evidentiary gaps if she did not take the stand.
Why prosecutors sought Gutierrez-Reed’s testimony
Prosecutors asked the court to grant Gutierrez-Reed use immunity so they could require her to testify despite her assertion of the Fifth Amendment privilege. Her testimony could have addressed evidence concerning the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
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Gutierrez-Reed’s defense opposed the request, calling it belated and arguing that compelling testimony could affect her own case and appeal. She had been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024 and sentenced to 18 months in prison, according to the Associated Press.
What the judge decided—and what it meant
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer denied the request on June 21. The ruling meant prosecutors could not compel Gutierrez-Reed to testify through the requested use-immunity process. It did not mean she had volunteered to testify or agreed to give evidence.
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As the Associated Press reported through Court TV, Sommer reasoned that other witnesses could fill most of the gaps if Gutierrez-Reed did not testify. The available report describes her reasoning in paraphrase; it does not provide a verified verbatim quotation from the hearing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did the ruling decide Baldwin’s case?
No. The June decision addressed whether Gutierrez-Reed could be compelled to testify; it was not a verdict or final ruling on Baldwin’s criminal case. Baldwin’s trial was dismissed in July 2024 amid evidence-disclosure misconduct, the Associated Press later reported. Separately, the AP reported on September 30, 2024, that Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction had been upheld.
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