'Rust' armorer appeals conviction in fatal shooting of cinematographer by Alec Baldwin

An appeal has been made by the movie weapons armorer convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film Rust, according to new court documents.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is serving an 18-month sentence at a New Mexico penitentiary for women, had a defence attorney file a brief appeal notice. They have 30 days to submit detailed arguments.

Prosecutors blame Gutierrez-Reed for unwittingly bringing live ammunition onto the set of Rust, where it was expressly prohibited, and for failing to follow basic gun-safety protocols. A jury convicted her in state court in March.

• 'Rust' armourer sentenced to 18 months in prison for fatal on-set shooting

• Actor Alec Baldwin had 'no control' over his emotions on ‘Rust’ set, prosecutors say

Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of the film, was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and says he pulled back the hammer - but not the trigger - and the gun fired. His trial is scheduled for July.

Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted of an evidence tampering charge at trial, and still confronts separate court proceedings on allegations she carried a firearm into a bar in downtown Santa Fe.

A New Mexico judge last month determined that Gutierrez-Reed’s recklessness on the Rust set constituted a serious violent offence, noting few indications of genuine remorse in the death of Hutchins.