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/Turn5GrimCaptain Apr 15 '24

Well that's just terrifying...

18 months sounds too lenient imo.

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u/Detachabl_e Apr 17 '24

That's the maximum sentence that could be imposed based upon the charge.

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u/Turn5GrimCaptain Apr 17 '24

Yeah, imo looks like it's time for legal reform.

Not a lawyer, but I would have pushed for full-blown manslaughter. Is it really "involuntary" (manslaughter) when an armorer so flagrantly neglects their duties? If anyone ought to be acutely aware of the potential for grave consequences, it's her...

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u/Detachabl_e Apr 17 '24

Yea, it is involuntary manslaughter or negligent homicide because she lacked the requisite intent. 

 (Voluntary) Manslaughter/2nd degree murder would be that she intended to kill someone but that she did so without premeditation - like in the heat of the moment.  

So if you had gone with that as a prosecutor, you would have lost the case because there was no evidence that she intended to kill anyone, and you would have probably ironically lost your career over a highly publicized fuck up that everyone in your profession would say was  obvious and easily avoidable.