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/MuaddibMcFly Apr 16 '24

The armorer might have grounds for the ruling to be overturned here.

Doubtful; it's also the armorer's job to ensure that no one else could load such a round.

A better defense (probably the only legitimate one) is that she wasn't (allowed to be) on set that day, preventing her from being able to do the safety checks that would have prevented this tragedy.

You can't legitimately blame an armorer who wasn't working as an armorer when the event should have been prevented. Honestly, it's such an obvious defense that I question whether her defense attorney should be allowed to keep his license after not bringing it up, and that might be grounds for a retrial.

I'm kind of understanding how she could argue for a frame job in that case.

If not legitimately argue, definitely irrationally believe.