Written by Andrew Hay
In March, Gutierrez, 27, was found guilty of manslaughter for accidentally loading a revolver Baldwin was using on a movie set in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“You alone turned a safe weapon into a deadly weapon,” Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer told Gutierrez as she handed down the sentence.
On video calls and in court during the hearing, Hutchins' friends in the film industry paid tribute to her creativity and kindness. They also accused Gutierrez of violating firearm safety regulations.
“I'm having a hard time dealing with how many times this has been called an accident, because it wasn't an accident, it was a mistake,” said film industry colleague Jen White.
The shooting, which shocked Hollywood, is believed to be the first time in modern times that a film crew or cast member has been killed by live ammunition accidentally loaded into a gun.
Baldwin's trial is scheduled for July 10 after a grand jury indicted him on manslaughter charges in January.
Gutierrez's attorney, Jason Bowles, asked for her probation, but prosecutors argued for a full 18 months, citing a lack of remorse.
“Please don't give us any more time,” Gutierrez told the court, saying his “heart breaks” for Hutchins' family. “The jury found me at fault for this tragedy, but that doesn't make me a monster. It makes me human.”
In a video call from Kiev, the Ukrainian-born cinematographer's mother mourned the death of her daughter and the loss of her young grandson, Andros.
“Losing a child is the most painful thing,” Olga Solovey said. Her comment was translated into English with subtitles.
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in a phone call from jail that Gutierrez continued to blame Baldwin and others for the shooting, saying the jury was “stupid” and the judge “paid off.”
Gutierrez had already spent a month in Santa Fe County Jail after being convicted.
3 week trial
On March 6, a Santa Fe jury found her guilty in less than two hours. One juror later said Gutierrez failed in his duty to ensure the safety of the weapon at the scene of the shooting.
Following Hutchins' death, U.S. film and television production companies initially stopped using real firearms and blank ammunition. Two and a half years later, armorers say many people are using it again because of its realistic effects.
Mr. Hutchins was shot and killed when Mr. Baldwin pointed a gun at the cinematographer while setting up a scene.
During Mr. Gutierrez's three-week trial, prosecutors accused him of unknowingly bringing live Colt .45 ammunition onto the set of a low-budget film, something strictly prohibited under Screen Actors Guild safety guidelines for nearly a century. That's what happened.
Bowles said Gutierrez was not given time to check the weapon and became the scapegoat for a chaotic production. He blamed Hutchins' death on Baldwin's reckless use of a firearm and Baldwin's efforts to hastily control the shooting. Baldwin was also the film's producer and screenwriter.
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents Hutchins' parents and sister in the case against Baldwin, said she supports criminal prosecution of Hutchins.
“Mr. Baldwin did everything he could to dismiss This case is ongoing, but at this point the trial appears to be proceeding,” Allred told reporters outside the courthouse.
The “30 Rock” actor denied pulling the trigger and said he was instructed to point it at the camera. However, the FBI and independent firearms experts have found that the gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled.
Film historians like Alan Lord have found cases dating back to the early part of the last century in which Hollywood cast and crew members were killed by live ammunition incorrectly loaded into guns.
Previous shootings that killed actor Brandon Lee in 1993 and John-Eric Hexum on set in 1984 included blank shots.
(Reporting by Andrew Haigh; Editing by Aurora Ellis)