Actor Alec Baldwin experienced the sudden end of his involuntary manslaughter trial concerning the fatal shooting incident on the set of the film Rust, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. On Friday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of Santa Fe decided to dismiss the case with prejudice, which bars Baldwin from being retried in relation to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The decision was made following a heated, day-long hearing that centered on accusations of mishandled evidence by the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office and prosecutors. Judge Sommer highlighted the effect of these procedural errors on the trial's fairness, stating, "The late discovery of this evidence has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings. There is no way for the court to right this wrong. The sanction of dismissal is the only warranted remedy."
The hearing took an unusual turn when Judge Sommer personally inspected a bag of ammunition, which Baldwin's legal team alleged had been withheld from them until recently. This led to significant developments, including the resignation of one special prosecutor and the testimony of another. Originally anticipated to last two weeks, the trial concluded abruptly on its third day, leaving Baldwin visibly moved but silent as he departed the courthouse.
Meanwhile, prosecutor Kari Morrissey acknowledged the judge's ruling, asserting that there was no evidence linking the discovered ammunition to the tragic incident involving Halyna Hutchins. The dismissal motion filed by Baldwin's attorneys pointed to the late disclosure of critical evidence that surfaced after the trial of the film's armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. The ammunition in question, supposedly matching the bullet that killed Hutchins, was handed over to authorities by retired officer Troy Teske in March, yet it was not disclosed to the defense during trial preparations, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The fatal incident took place during a rehearsal at a New Mexico church set, where Baldwin accidentally discharged a loaded revolver he was assured was unloaded. The shooting resulted in the death of Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. The presence of live rounds mixed with dummy rounds on set remains an unresolved mystery. Legal proceedings against Baldwin have been marked by twists since charges were initially filed in January 2023, only to be dropped and later refiled amid conflicting forensic reports and witness accounts, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Following the dismissal, Matthew Hutchins, Halyna's widower, expressed his disappointment, reiterating his commitment to holding Baldwin accountable. "We respect the court's decision. We look forward to presenting all the evidence to a jury and holding Mr Baldwin accountable for his actions in the senseless death of Halyna Hutchins," said Brian Panish, attorney for Matthew Hutchins, in an official statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
