In the ongoing trial related to the tragic incident on the set of “Rust,” the man who supplied guns, blanks, and dummy ammunition, Seth Kenney, testified on Monday, denying that he provided any live rounds to the production. The trial revolves around the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, with armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.
Kenney, the owner of PDQ Arm and Prop, testified that he rigorously checked the dummy rounds he supplied, ensuring they contained BBs that indicate they cannot be fired. He emphasized that he never sent out any dummy round that didn’t rattle, indicating that it was safe. However, the prosecution alleges that Gutierrez Reed brought live rounds to the set, left over from a prior production.
During cross-examination, Kenney admitted to keeping a supply of “reloaded” live rounds from another production, stored separately from his dummy rounds. He explained that he retained these rounds for self-defense purposes, but the defense highlighted the lack of a robust inventory tracking system at Kenney’s business.
The defense has also argued that Kenney might have influenced the investigation, pointing out his numerous interactions with the lead investigator. However, Detective Alexandra Hancock testified that she didn’t believe Kenney was attempting to steer the investigation.
In a surprising turn of events, Rebecca Smith, the key craft services person on the set, testified about an encounter with Gutierrez Reed on the night of the shooting. Smith claimed Gutierrez Reed handed her a baggie containing what she believed to be cocaine, which Gutierrez Reed allegedly asked her to hold onto. Smith, a recovering addict, disposed of the baggie, leading to a charge of tampering with evidence against Gutierrez Reed.
As the trial progresses, digital forensic experts have presented enhanced photos from the set, showing rounds with brass-colored primers alongside a single round with a silver-colored primer, suggesting the presence of live ammunition.
The prosecution has rested its case, with the defense expected to present witnesses on Tuesday. Closing arguments are anticipated later in the week as the trial continues to shed light on the events leading to the tragic incident on the set of “Rust.
