Alec Baldwin manslaughter trial dismissed over withheld evidence

In delivering her decision, Judge Sommer criticised the state's handling of evidence, describing it as deliberate and warranting dismissal with prejudice to uphold the judicial system's integrity.

In a surprising turn of events, Alec Baldwin saw involuntary manslaughter charges dismissed by a New Mexico judge on Friday. The judge sided with Baldwin's defence team, who argued that critical evidence regarding the origin of the live round that tragically ended cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' life during the filming of "Rust" in 2021 had been withheld by prosecutors and police.

Also read: Alec Baldwin ‘violated the cardinal rules of firearms safety,’ Rust trial says

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer's decision came swiftly after days of courtroom deliberations, where Baldwin, accompanied by his wife Hilaria Baldwin and visibly emotional sister Elizabeth Keuchler, awaited the outcome. The judge's ruling prompted a mix of relief and restrained emotion among Baldwin's supporters present.

Baldwin's legal representatives had raised concerns that the Santa Fe sheriff's office, tasked with handling evidence in the case, had failed to properly document the live rounds found and neglected to disclose this critical information to the defence. They contended that this omission suggested the possibility that the fatal round may have originated from Seth Kenney, the film's prop supplier, who denies any involvement in supplying live ammunition.

In delivering her decision, Judge Sommer criticised the state's handling of evidence, describing it as deliberate and warranting dismissal with prejudice to uphold the judicial system's integrity. The courtroom drama intensified with the resignation of prosecutor Erlinda Johnson earlier that day, followed by lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey's testimony acknowledging discrepancies in evidence handling but denying any intent to mislead.

Also read: Alec Baldwin’s request to dismiss ‘Rust’ manslaughter case denied by judge

Central to the dismissal were Colt .45 rounds submitted to the sheriff's office by Troy Teske, a friend of Thell Reed, stepfather to the film's armorer Hannah Gutierrez, on the same day Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. However, confusion arose as a sheriff's office technician testified that the rounds were filed under a different case number and disputed assertions that they matched the fatal round.

Defence attorney Alex Spiro pressed Morrissey on allegations that she harboured animosity toward Baldwin, a claim she denied under oath, emphasising that her focus remained on justice rather than personal bias. Prosecutors, meanwhile, continued to argue that Baldwin's mishandling of the firearm played a pivotal role in Hutchins' death, while Baldwin's legal team maintained he was a victim of systemic safety failures on set.

As the legal battle continues to unfold, the case highlights not only the complexities of responsibility on film sets but also the critical importance of transparent and thorough evidence handling in criminal proceedings.