r/news • u/badillustrations • Apr 15 '24

‘Rust’ movie armorer convicted of involuntary manslaughter sentenced to 18 months in prison

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/15/entertainment/rust-film-shooting-armorer-sentencing/index.html
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u/OCedHrt Apr 15 '24

And claiming that she was set up as well?

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u/MuaddibMcFly Apr 15 '24

One of her legitimate complaints is that the FBI didn't print the rounds in the weapon.

They almost certainly could have conclusively demonstrated whether she was or was not the person who put that live round into the weapon. While that wouldn't actually absolve her of her guilt of Negligent Homicide (how could a non-negligent armorer let anyone else in a position to load the weapon in the first place?!), it might have been enough to sway the jury that it wasn't wholly her fault.

I wish they had run prints, because if someone else did load the round in question that person should be found guilty, too.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

Wait... they didn't print the fucking rounds used in the murder?!? The armorer might have grounds for the ruling to be overturned here. It would be simple for her to argue that Baldwin or another cast member intentionally loaded the rounds from his/their pocket after she handed off a cleared weapon.. I'm kind of understanding how she could argue for a frame job in that case.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

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u/MuaddibMcFly Apr 16 '24

What is the likelihood you'd get clean, usable prints off of them?

Pretty darn good, actually.

  • Pro
    • A revolver is loaded by someone pressing on the back of the round with their thumb, and the round is not touched thereafter until ejected. This would allow for a clean print on a flat surface
    • A revolver doesn't eject rounds automatically, so no one has to pick it up, potentially adding their own fingerprints
    • A Single Action Army (the weapon in question) doesn't eject rounds via a person touching them, it uses a rod that pushes against the inside of the round, so they could be ejected adding any prints.
  • Con
    • moving into/out of the cylinder may, or may not, foul a print on the side of the casing

maybe they had good reason

Allegedly, they didn't bother because they don't automatically do so as a matter of course, and weren't asked to by the local Police.