Rust Shooting Trial Gets Case-Killing Moment With Embarrassing Expert Witness
A little lunacy in the courtroom today during the Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Rust shooting trial led to an intervention from the bailiff. Appearing as an expert weapons witness, Frank Koucky carelessly pointed a gun at the judge while on the stand, triggering a quick response from the bailiff, who immediately stepped in to lower the weapon.
In a courtroom where a woman is on trial for involuntary manslaughter for the firing of a weapon on the set of the upcoming film Rust, you would think the “expert” weapons guy would be a little more on point with his firearm safety habits.
Koucky was initially called to the stand in the Rust trial to attest to the nature of the weapons that were on set the day of the shooting and to serve as an expert in the realm of weapons and weapons handling. However, he swiftly discredited himself as soon as a weapon was brought out.
As Koucky was first handling a revolver (similar to the one involved in the Rust shooting) in the courtroom, the judge chimed in to explain to him that everyone in the room was nervous because he never demonstrated to the court that the weapon was not loaded before proceeding with his testimony. While proceeding to show the judge that the weapon in his hand was not loaded, Koucky pointed the gun directly at the judge.
In a courtroom where a woman is on trial for involuntary manslaughter for the firing of a weapon on the set of the upcoming film Rust, you would think the “expert” weapons guy would be a little more on point with his firearm safety habits. The case against Gutierrez-Reed (the film’s armorer) is largely built around negligence.
Koucky was initially called to the stand in the Rust trial to attest to the nature of the weapons that were on set the day of the shooting and to serve as an expert in the realm of weapons and weapons handling.
The way Koucky handled himself in the courtroom today did not set a solid foundation of trust in his testimony, to say the least. Shortly after pointing the gun at the judge in the Rust shooting case, the “expert” was questioned by prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey about what had just happened.
Adding insult to injury, he blatantly denied ever pointing the weapon towards the judge just moments after the bailiff had to physically step in to lower the weapon. She then asked him if it was an important part of gun safety to never point the weapon at anyone, to which he replied, “If it’s a real gun, yes.”
Even more, Morrissey asked Koucky if general gun safety (such as what should have been observed on set before the Rust shooting) requires that the gun be pointed down while being handled. To which he answered in a rambling fashion, “Not at all … a gun may be pointed up, may be pointed back, may be pointed cross-arms (as in the military).” Over and over again, the man’s trustworthiness was destroyed on the stand.
Ultimately, the producers of Rust and Alec Baldwin have already come to a settlement agreement with the Hutchins estate over the shooting.
The Gutierrez-Reed trial is just one piece of the story of the Rust shooting when cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed after being shot by one of the “prop” guns. Alec Baldwin was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, as he was the one who allegedly pulled the trigger. Baldwin’s trial on the matter is set to begin in July of this year. Baldwin’s attorneys have stated that he was under the full impression that the gun he was brandishing only held dummy rounds.
Ultimately, the producers of Rust and Alec Baldwin have already come to a settlement agreement with the Hutchins estate over the shooting. Matthew Hutchins stepped in to finish the movie and has publicly stated that he believes the death of his wife was a tragic accident. Matthew hopes that the completion of the film will serve as a tribute to her memory and talents.
