In a dramatic turn of events in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a judge has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin for the 2021 shooting on the set of the film “Rust” that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The dismissal occurred just three days into the trial, near the location of the tragic incident.
This marks the second dismissal of the case against Baldwin, ensuring that he will not face trial again. Throughout the proceedings, Baldwin’s legal team accused law enforcement and prosecution of withholding crucial evidence a collection of bullets that they argued was pertinent to understanding how live ammunition was present on set.
The case’s pivotal issue revolved around the origin of the live rounds found during rehearsals. Baldwin’s defense highlighted investigative errors and mishandling by authorities, which they claimed compromised the integrity of the case. Their motion to dismiss catalyzed significant developments, including the resignation of one of the two special prosecutors and the decision by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to dismiss the assembled jury to hear additional testimony.
Baldwin’s attorneys argued that the disputed bullets, related to another case and numbered differently, were relevant to Hutchins’ death. The prosecution contended these bullets were unrelated to those found on set. However, Judge Sommer ruled that the bullets should have been disclosed to the defense, criticizing the prosecution for their intentional omission of evidence.
“The state’s willful withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate,” Judge Sommer stated, emphasizing the irreversible impact of the prosecutorial errors. “There is no way for the court to right this wrong.”
The legal proceedings reached a peak when a crime-scene technician testified that a retired police officer, Troy Teske, who had connections with the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, had handed over live ammunition potentially linked to the case. This revelation came after Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier in the year.
In a rare occurrence, Prosecutor Kari Morrissey testified during the hearing, arguing the ammunition had no relevance to the case. The courtroom witnessed further drama when Morrissey’s co-prosecutor, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, resigned amid disagreements over the handling of the public hearing regarding the evidence.
As the judge announced the decision, Baldwin, visibly emotional, received the support of his family and friends in the courtroom. Following the acquittal, Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria, made a quiet exit from the courthouse, surrounded by media but offering no comment as they departed.
Judge Sommer’s decision to dismiss the case “with prejudice” means that Baldwin cannot be retried on the same charges, effectively closing this chapter of the actor’s life and ending a lengthy and highly publicized legal battle. The ruling highlights significant concerns about evidence management and prosecutorial conduct in high-profile cases.