A dramatic turn of events unfolded on Friday as the involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin was dismissed. The judge overseeing the case ruled that prosecutors failed to properly turn over crucial evidence to the defense, leading to the case’s dismissal.
Baldwin’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss, citing that state investigators did not inform the defense about a box of ammunition, allegedly connected to the case, that was delivered to investigators. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer halted proceedings to address this issue, ultimately siding with the defense and dismissing the case with prejudice, preventing it from being brought again.
“The state’s discovery violation has injected a needless, incurable delay into the jury trial,” Judge Marlowe Sommer stated. “Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice.”
Baldwin was visibly emotional as the decision was announced, hugging his wife Hilaria in the courtroom. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued that the ammunition delivered by a man named Troy Teske was not relevant to the “Rust” case. Morrissey asserted that the rounds were not a match to those found on set and lacked evidentiary value.
The courtroom witnessed an unusual scene as the judge ordered further examination of the rounds in question. Judge Marlowe Sommer, witnesses, and attorneys donned blue gloves to inspect the ammunition, which was ultimately deemed unrelated to the fatal shooting.
Prosecutors had accused several of those involved in the case of belonging to criminal gangs, with the lead investigator, Cpl. Alexandria Hancock, testifying that the rounds appeared similar to the dummy rounds on the “Rust” set. Despite this, the defense highlighted lapses in the prosecution’s handling of evidence.
Outside the courtroom, Morrissey expressed her disappointment but respected the court’s decision. “We did everything humanly possible to bring justice to Halyna and her family, and we’re proud of the work we did,” she said, referring to the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on set.
The dismissal came just days into Baldwin’s trial for the October 21, 2021, shooting of Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the Western film “Rust.” Baldwin, who pleaded not guilty, faced up to 18 months in prison. The trial was marked by extensive legal battles over the evidence and the roles of other crew members, including armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed and assistant director Dave Halls.
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