|
During Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's court appearance on the felonies
she faces, First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe
Sommer said prosecutors had not presented any evidence that
would persuade her to order the drug testing.
Gutierrez, 25, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and
tampering with evidence over the on-set shooting death of
cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, who died from a gunshot
after Gutierrez said she mistakenly loaded a live round into a
revolver actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing with, according to a
transcript of a police interview.
The tampering with evidence charge stems from prosecutors'
accusations that Gutierrez allegedly transferred cocaine to an
unnamed person to dispose of evidence on the day that Hutchins
was killed.
Gutierrez's lawyer, Jason Bowles, has said she will plead not
guilty to both counts. Gutierrez was not required to enter a
plea Wednesday. During the hearing the judge advised Gutierrez
of her rights and formally told her of the charges she faces.
In requesting drug testing during the hearing, prosecutor Kari
Morrissey noted that the defendant was allowed to possess a
firearm as a condition of her release. It is a crime under
federal law for "unlawful" drug users to own guns.
Bowles, Gutierrez's attorney, said the prosecution had presented
no evidence showing his client was a drug user.
Gutierrez is the only person still facing charges for Hutchins'
death after prosecutors dismissed charges against Baldwin and
reached a plea agreement with first assistant director Dave
Halls.
Gutierrez's next court appearance was scheduled Aug. 1.
(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Donna
Bryson and Daniel Wallis)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
