A New Mexico judge has brought a sudden end to the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin, dismissing it in the middle of the actor’s trial and saying it cannot be filed again.
The bigger picture: Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defence in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust.
The key quote: “The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” Sommer said.
“If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith it certainly comes so near to bad faith to show signs of scorching.”
What else to know: The judge’s decision ends the criminal culpability of the 66-year-old Baldwin after a nearly three-year saga. Baldwin could have been sentenced to 18 months in prison if convicted.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was accidentally shot and killed by a bullet from a prop gun discharged by Baldwin on the set of Rust. Credit: Fred Hayes
What happens next: Baldwin and other producers still face civil lawsuits from Hutchins’ parents and sister.
Prosecutors did get one conviction for Hutchins’ death. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armourer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on an involuntary manslaughter conviction, which she is now appealing.
Her attorney Jason Bowles said he would be filing a motion to dismiss his client’s case as well.