After nearly three years of legal battles and intense public scrutiny, Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter case related to the fatal "Rust" movie set shooting has been dismissed. The dramatic conclusion came just two days into the trial, leaving Baldwin visibly emotional in court. "Your motion to dismiss with prejudice is granted," Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer declared, prompting Baldwin to break down in tears and embrace his wife, Hilaria.
The dismissal marks the end of a high-profile case that has captivated the public since the tragic incident on October 21, 2021. On that day, Baldwin was rehearsing a "cross draw" maneuver with a prop gun on the set of the Western film "Rust" in New Mexico. The gun discharged a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin, who faced up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine, had always maintained that the shooting was an accident.
The trial's dismissal stemmed from Baldwin's defense team's motion, filed on Thursday, which accused the prosecution of suppressing evidence. According to court documents, the defense alleged that the prosecutors had concealed evidence that potentially pointed to an external source of the live ammunition, specifically prop supplier Seth Kenney. This claim, based on a box of ammunition delivered to investigators, suggested a violation of the Brady rule, which requires prosecutors to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense.
On Friday, during a chaotic hearing, Judge Marlowe Sommer expressed her frustration with the prosecution's handling of the case. She referred to a dismissal with prejudice as a "very extreme sanction" but ultimately sided with the defense. The judge emphasized that the prosecution's failure to disclose the evidence had "impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings."
Alec Baldwin motion to dismiss granted pic.twitter.com/eOQdoRgmhR — iCkEdMeL (@iCkEdMeL) July 12, 2024
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, who testified under oath, expressed disappointment with the ruling. "I believe that the importance of the evidence was misconstrued by the defense attorneys, but I have to respect the court's decision," she said.
The concealed evidence in question involved a box of ammunition delivered to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office by retired police officer Troy Teske. Teske, a friend of the film's armorer's father, believed the ammunition could be associated with the "Rust" incident. However, the items were cataloged separately from Baldwin's case and not tested to see if they matched the lethal round.
Judge Marlowe Sommer concluded that the prosecution's conduct amounted to bad faith, stating, "If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith, it certainly comes so near to bad faith as to show signs of scorching." She added that the late disclosure of evidence was "highly prejudicial" to Baldwin's case, undermining the defense's preparation for trial.
The judge's decision to dismiss the case with prejudice ensures that Baldwin cannot be tried again for the same charges. "The state's discovery violation has injected a needless, incurable delay into the jury trial. Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice," Marlowe Sommer stated.
The dismissal has broader implications beyond Baldwin's case. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film's armorer, is also facing charges of involuntary manslaughter. Her attorney, Jason Bowles, announced plans to move for a dismissal of her case following Baldwin's acquittal. "The judge found intentional misconduct, and we also have had the same failures in Hannah's case by the State," Bowles said.
The dismissal has drawn mixed reactions from the public and legal experts. While some view it as a victory for Baldwin and a testament to the importance of fair legal proceedings, others see it as a troubling example of prosecutorial misconduct. The high-profile nature of the case and the tragic circumstances surrounding Hutchins' death ensure that discussions about legal accountability and safety on film sets will continue.
