The involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin was dismissed on Friday after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled that the prosecutors did not adequately present evidence to the defense.
The 66-year-old actor, known for roles in films like “Married to the Mob,” was visibly emotional following the ruling. This decision came just hours after the judge dramatically halted the proceedings, having heard arguments from Baldwin’s legal team asserting that the prosecutors had concealed evidence.
On Friday, Baldwin found himself facing the third day of his trial in New Mexico when this surprising announcement was made.
He had been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was 42 years old. The incident occurred during the filming of the neo-Western movie “Rust” in New Mexico in 2021. If convicted, Baldwin could have faced up to 18 months in prison.
Prior to the jury entering the courtroom on Friday, Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, requested that the charges be dropped. He argued that the prosecutors had hidden evidence that could clarify how live ammunition was introduced on set.
Alec’s wife, Hilaria, 40, was seen tearing up as lawyers urged the judge to dismiss the case.
The Hollywood star was rehearsing a scene when the gun he was holding discharged, killing Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, who is 51. Baldwin has consistently claimed in interviews that he did not pull the trigger and was unaware that the weapon contained live rounds.
His legal team suggested that a man named Troy Teske—a friend of Thell Reed, the father of the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed—had provided ammunition to authorities believed to be linked to the case. Gutierrez-Reed, 27, was previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter for handling a loaded cartridge in Baldwin’s weapon.
Nikas stated, “We’re talking about a prosecution that did not preserve those bullets, did not take them, did not hand them over. This is critical evidence in the case that was never provided to us… we had a right to it. This case must be dismissed, Your Honor.”
After a recess, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer heard testimony from several witnesses, including Seth Kenney, the armorer for “Rust,” and Deputy Alexandria Hancock from the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office.
During a tense exchange, Baldwin’s attorney, Alex Spiro, asked Hancock if she had “hidden” more evidence, to which she replied, “I didn’t hide anything.” However, she did acknowledge that the ammunition provided by Teske was archived separately from other production evidence and noted that prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey had been involved in those discussions.
During a break in the trial on Friday, Alec and Hilaria embraced and appeared to share smiles, seemingly relieved by the judge’s decision.
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