I've been watching some of the testimony. In a nutshell, NOBODY knows how live rounds got on set or at least no proof of how this happened. It was proven that PDQ's dummy rounds which had a different appearance did no appear on set until 2 days prior to filming but the live rounds were already on set. So in all likelihood, HG brought them to set with her kit but it can't be proven. Hannah Gutierrez's father, is actually her step-father (at least 50 yrs older than her) and a well known Armourer himself. He is on the witness list, probably a character witness to verify her training. This was only her second film as lead. Ammo and firearms were provided by PDQ Arm & Prop who had a long standing professional relationship with her step-father and recommended HG to the producers (can you say nepotism?). Some of the ammo came from the set of 1883 (Taylor Sheridan, producer) and some was carried over from HG's previous film, The Old Way with Nicolas Cage, were 2 misfire incidents also occurred. On 1883, live rounds were used during special closed practise. HG's civil lawsuit against PDQ was dropped.
HG was probably taking drugs (i.e. cocaine) although the defense left some doubt as to whether the substance the Craft Services lady threw away was actually cocaine (HG asked her to hold it for her then asked for "her stuff" back later on). HG was unprofessional and amateurish in her maintenance of the firearms and ammunition on set and did not control the actors mishandling of the firearms on set. HG initially got 5 days for her time on set which was extended to 10 days but was refused additional training time to work with the actors and especially refused training time with the child actor. She had ample time to verify by shaking which rounds were dummies and which rounds were suspect but according to the Props Master was never observed actually doing that on set. The Props Master, who had zero experience with firearms prior to this production, was given responsibilities she should not have performed and was not trained properly by HG. Her inexperience directly led to a mis-fire of Baldwin's firearm on set but this was not reported up the chain of command. She also ignorantly disposed of spent blanks and dummy rounds in the garbage, which means she tampered with evidence, probably while in a panic.
HG and the Prop Master had a weird working relationship on set; HG was the Prop Master's boss when acting as the Armourer but the Prop Master was the boss when it HG was acting as Prop's Assistant. The management of film (i.e. producers, line producer, 1st AD, and production designer) mismanaged the production, paid lip service to safety, conflated the roles of the Armourer and Prop Master due to budget constraints, hired inexperienced staff, and did not permit them to fulfill their jobs correctly. The film production company was fined $100,000 by OSHA (correction, they were fined $136k which was the max amount) but did not single out the specific staff and fine them. 1st AD and the Props Master have agreements with the Prosecution that they would testify in exchange for not being prosecuted themselves. Correction: the 1st AD pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge. After the incident there was mass panic and confusion with NOBODY taking charge until the cops and medics got to site. According to a private investigator, who was previously a cop, the entire scene and investigation was mismanaged by the police, even with them handling evidence with bare hands and none of the cell phones on set were secured. The firearm was damaged during testing without 3rd party or defense attorney's awareness.
Lots of blame to go around here. IMHO, the Armourer Hannah Gutierrez will be found guilty. The trial of Alec Baldwin will happen in July and he should be found guilty although the other producers should also get stung as well if there is any justice in this world. There will be a heightened awareness in the film industry and procedures will change. The unions and guilds will come out with additional guidelines and rules. MAYBE future incidents like this can be avoided???