In a notable legal decision, Santa Fe Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has decided to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin.
Baldwin’s legal representatives put forward an eleventh-hour motion for dismissal, contending they hadn’t been allowed to properly review potentially crucial evidence—a batch of ammunition handed in concurrently with the trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, who is currently serving a sentence of 18 months for the same charge.
This ammunition was central to Baldwin’s defense, highlighting questions about the presence of live rounds on the set of the movie “Rust.” During a rehearsal in October 2021, Baldwin was handling a gun when it accidentally fired, tragically resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Judge Sommer sided with the defense, criticizing the prosecution for not sharing information about the additional ammunition with Baldwin’s attorneys. This oversight led to the dismissal of the case with prejudice, ensuring it cannot be reopened against Baldwin.
Judge Sommer expressed her dismay over the situation, stating, “There is no way for the court to right this wrong,” during her ruling this afternoon. An emotional scene unfolded in the courtroom as Baldwin and his family, who had been present since testimony started earlier in the week, visibly broke down.
The Pivotal Evidence
During the time of Gutierrez-Reed’s trial, a man named Troy Teske delivered several bullets to the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office. He claimed these were from the same batch as those used on the “Rust” set. (Prosecutor Kari Morrissey noted that Teske was closely connected to Gutierrez-Reed’s father, Thell Reed, who is a recognized armorer.) The bullets Teske provided were cataloged under a separate case number, and Morrissey believed they were not the same as the bullet that resulted in Hutchins’ death.
Later, Morrissey acknowledged on the witness stand that she did not consider this evidence significant to Baldwin’s trial. However, Baldwin’s lawyers argued that this was part of a cover-up, as critical evidence that could have aided Baldwin’s case was withheld from them.
Judge Sommer condemned the state’s negligence in failing to disclose this evidence to the defense, labeling it a severe oversight. The jury was dismissed earlier on Friday while the judge deliberated on the future of the case.
Baldwin had been at risk of serving up to 18 months in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
