Prosecutor tears into ‘Rust’ armorer’s firearm expert witness for seemingly pointing revolver ‘in the direction of the judge’ while showing ‘nervous’ onlookers if it was unloaded

Frank Koucky, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

How Frank Koucky, defense firearms expert witness, handled revolver in court on Mar. 5, 2024, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed (inset) via Law&Crime Network

On the ninth day of “Rust” armor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s involuntary manslaughter trial over the 2021 Santa Fe, New Mexico, movie set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, a defense expert witness in firearms incited the ire of the prosecution for appearing to point a revolver in the trial judge’s direction while demonstrating if the gun was loaded.

Frank Koucky III’s trip to the witness stand to testify — in a case about firearms safety or lack thereof — immediately caused a stir on Tuesday, as the prosecution called jurors’ attention to the way he handled a revolver moments earlier, when the judge made a request on behalf of “nervous” people in the courtroom.

“Alright, first of all, everybody’s nervous because you have not demonstrated to us that they (the firearms) are unloaded, so before you start showing us the weapons, make sure they’re unloaded, including the one you just touched,” said Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of the First Judicial District Court. Koucky obliged by pointing the revolver down and then, for an instant, in Sommer’s direction — prompting a deputy to reach out and push the gun down.

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