SANTA FE, N.M. — In a shocking development, the involuntary manslaughter trial of actor Alec Baldwin was abruptly halted Friday when a judge ruled in favor of dismissing the case. The decision came after Baldwin’s defense team argued that crucial evidence had been improperly withheld by prosecutors, prompting the court to find no other viable option but to terminate the proceedings.
First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stated that the dismissal would be with prejudice, preventing the case from being refiled against Baldwin. This dramatic turn of events unfolded in the courtroom, leaving Baldwin visibly emotional, resulting in tears as the judge’s verdict was read aloud.
The incident that led to the charges against Baldwin occurred on October 21, 2021, during a rehearsal on the New Mexico set of the Western film “Rust,” when a prop firearm Baldwin was handling discharged. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was fatally wounded, and director Joel Souza was injured. Baldwin, who is 66 and best known for his roles in “30 Rock” and his appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” had pleaded not guilty to the charges, maintaining that he was unaware the gun contained a live round.
The defense argued that new evidence, specifically undisclosed ammunition, was only brought to their attention during the trial, tipping the balance of justice towards dismissal. Baldwin’s attorneys also contended that the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office had confiscated these live rounds but failed to formally log them or disclose their existence to Baldwin’s legal team.
In response to the court’s decision, Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey expressed disappointment but affirmed respect for the outcome. Morrissey emphasized that despite disagreements over the handling of the evidence, her team had strived to deliver justice for Hutchins and her family.
Parallel to the dismissed criminal case, there is a pending civil lawsuit in New Jersey against Baldwin related to the same incident. Renowned attorney Gloria Allred, representing Hutchins’ family, pointed out in a press briefing a day after the dismissal, that the civil case remains unaffected by the criminal trial’s outcome and stressed that it does not equate to an exoneration of Baldwin.
Brian J. Panish, an attorney representing Hutchins’ husband Matthew, echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the family respects the court’s decision but remains committed to presenting their case before a jury in the ongoing civil proceedings.
This legal saga in Santa Fe has been marked by various twists, including the last-minute resignation of co-special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, who stepped down following disagreements within the prosecutorial team concerning the handling of evidence.
The unresolved issues surrounding evidence management highlighted in the trial cast doubt on procedural integrity, prompting Baldwin’s attorneys to allege governmental misconduct not only in his case but also relatedly affecting “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
As the dust settles on Baldwin’s discontinued criminal trial, both the court of public opinion and the civil judicial system continue to grapple with the complex questions about responsibility, safety, and justice arising from the tragic events on the set of “Rust.”