Alec Baldwin's trial for involuntary manslaughter in the 'Rust' shooting may be impacted by the guilty verdict of the armorer, according to an expert.

This summer, Alec Baldwin will be in court to answer charges of involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

On Wednesday, a New Mexico jury found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the gun that discharged a live bullet on the Western film set, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Gutierrez-Reed's decision may suggest what's to come for Baldwin, who has been charged twice in Hutchins' death. Baldwin was initially charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 31, 2023, but the charges were later dropped in April 2023.

"Miguel Custodio, co-founder of Custodio and Dubey LLP, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Alec Baldwin is likely feeling anxious with the guilty verdict. He believes that Baldwin can understand the gravity of the situation and the repercussions of his actions."

Whether a jury in Custodio's case would be inclined to deliver another guilty verdict, given that someone from that group is already facing a possible prison sentence, remains uncertain.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered the armorer to be taken into custody after Gutierrez-Reed's verdict was read. She will remain in custody until she is sentenced, which could result in up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The trial of the armorer began on February 21st, with testimony from weapons experts, FBI and Santa Fe County authorities, as well as crew members who were present during the fatal shooting. The prosecution primarily focused on Gutierrez-Reed's actions as an armorer, arguing that she did not perform her duties correctly.

"According to Kate Mangels, partner at Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP, Gutierrez-Reed presented the most evidence against Baldwin's culpability in the shooting. Her attorneys portrayed Baldwin as failing in his role as part of the "Rust" production team and as an actor."

"The prosecution could employ this strategy in Baldwin's case to boost the likelihood of a jury convicting him in one of the roles. The success of the prosecution's case against Baldwin will largely hinge on whether the crew witnesses who testified against Gutierrez-Reed also testify against Baldwin."

West Coast Trial Lawyers president Neama Rahmani stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Baldwin has "several concerns" prior to his trial.

Rahmani believes that Baldwin should accuse Hannah and Dave Halls of being involved in the shooting, as Halls admitted to telling law enforcement that the gun used was a cold gun during his previous statements.

"The ballistics report indicates that he pulled the trigger, which is something he'll have to confront."

In numerous interviews, Baldwin has stated that he did not pull the trigger of the gun. During a TV appearance in December 2021, the actor, 65, described the moment the gun was fired, which occurred months after the fatal shooting.

The first words spoken by ALEC BALDWIN to detectives have been revealed as the police release a trove of 'RUST' files.

""The gun goes off after I release the hammer," Baldwin stated to George Stephanopoulos of ABC."

The prosecution's commissioned experts, Lucien Haag and Mike Haag, determined that Baldwin had to pull the trigger of the gun for it to fire in the case of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

"Despite Alec Baldwin's repeated denials, the evidence suggests that the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the revolver, resulting in the fatal incident. The report obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital states that the hammer was manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position, followed by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger at some point."

Paul Epstein, an Emmy-nominated executive producer, raised concerns about safety procedures on the "Rust" set.

What were the reasons behind his finger being on the trigger and pointing a weapon at anyone on set? These actions went against basic firearm safety guidelines and highlighted the unclear division of responsibility for safety, which, in my opinion, is the true essence of this tragedy, as Epstein stated to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"As a former assistant director and current producer, I understand the limitations of an AD's ability to enforce safety on set due to the tolerance of the director and producers."

The film's producers, including Baldwin himself, prioritized speed and urgency over careful risk management, as stated by both the investigation and crew members.

Gutierrez-Reed spun the cylinder of the .45 revolver to show Halls what was in the gun before Baldwin allegedly took it, her lawyer said.

The district attorney announced that Halls signed a plea agreement for a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, which included a suspended sentence and six months of probation.

If convicted, Baldwin could be sentenced to a maximum of 18 months in prison.

Baldwin's representatives did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.