New Mexico court drops charges against Alec Baldwin in "Rust" tragedy
The court in New Mexico dismissed the case against famous actor Alec Baldwin on Friday. He was accused of the involuntary manslaughter of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins died on October 21, 2021, when Baldwin accidentally shot her on the set of the western "Rust".
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled that the prosecution concealed evidence that could shed new light on how live ammunition ended up on the film set. Alec Baldwin did not plead guilty. He argued that he did not pull the trigger, and the revolver, which was a prop, fired on its own. He was also unaware that the weapon was loaded with live ammunition.
According to media reports, the charges against the actor have been dismissed without the possibility of reinstating the trial due to intentional and gross negligence by the prosecution. This means that the trial in which Baldwin was accused of involuntary manslaughter has concluded. The star, the film's producer, faced up to 18 months in prison.
"There is no way for the court to remedy the harm that has been done," Judge Sommer, quoted by the "New York Times", stated. After the verdict was announced, a visibly emotional 66-year-old Alec Baldwin cried.
The case lasted nearly three years
The defence attorneys of the American star demanded the case be dismissed. They accused the prosecution of concealing the fact that it had the cartridges, which were key evidence, when the attorneys requested to review all ballistic evidence.
"They hid it. They placed (ammunition) under another case, with a different number," Baldwin's lawyer, Luke Nikas, explained in court. Concealing evidence in the case by the prosecution constitutes a serious legal problem. The defence had the right to know the key evidence. Media revealed that the formal dismissal of the case occurred after a dramatic scene when a package with previously unexamined evidence was brought into the courtroom. Judge Sommer stepped down from the bench to personally examine the delivered evidence.
Reopened on July 10 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Alec Baldwin's case had many developments over almost three years. Attorneys fought the charges at every stage, submitting motions for dismissal and raising, among other arguments, claims regarding the grand jury proceedings and the tests conducted by the FBI, during which important parts of the weapon being examined were damaged. However, earlier Judge Sommer had rejected the defence's motions.
Alec Baldwin argued that he had no reason to believe that the revolver he received as a prop on the ill-fated day could be loaded with live rounds. Witnesses testified that the weapon on the film set was declared "cold", meaning it should not have fired.
