Assistant ‘Rust’ Director Pleads No Contest to Gun Charge, Receives Sentencing
First assistant director on the film “Rust,” David Halls, pleaded no contest to a charge related to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins was killed after a gun discharged on the set of the film in…

First assistant director on the film “Rust,” David Halls, pleaded no contest to a charge related to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Hutchins was killed after a gun discharged on the set of the film in 2021.
Variety reported Halls appeared remote for a plea hearing.
When asked how he wished to plea to the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, Halls replied, “No contest, your honor.”
While Halls will not serve time behind bars, he will serve six months of unsupervised probation, per Variety.
During the hearing, his attorney, Lisa Torraco, shared the assistant director is “extremely traumatized and just rattled with guilt and so many other feelings of, what could I have done better? How could I have changed things?”
According to Torraco, Halls is “in a lot of pain and a lot of trauma. He was 3 feet from Ms. Hutchins when the firearm went off. No one expected this.”
Additionally, Halls is required to pay a $500 fine, perform 24 hours of community service, participate in a fire safety course within 60 days, as well as testify in all hearings related to the incident, per ABC News.
Halls is also prohibited from contacting co-defendants or witnesses.
Earlier this week, it was reported


