After nearly three years since the fatal 'Rust' movie set shooting, a New Mexico judge granted Alec Baldwin's motion to dismiss with prejudice, ending his involuntary manslaughter trial. The emotional moment in court saw Baldwin visibly shaken, removing his glasses and sobbing before embracing his wife, Hilaria.
The trial stemmed from the October 2021 incident where Baldwin, practicing with a prop gun, accidentally fired a live round, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin's defense team filed a motion to dismiss, citing the prosecution's failure to disclose evidence potentially pointing to an external source of live ammunition. The judge sided with the defense, emphasizing the importance of evidence disclosure and the impact on the trial's fairness.
The judge highlighted the Brady rule, requiring prosecutors to disclose material, exculpatory information to the defense. The withheld evidence, related to ammunition delivered by a retired police officer, was deemed favorable and material to Baldwin's case.
Marlowe Sommer criticized the prosecution's intentional suppression of evidence, leading to a dismissal with prejudice. She emphasized the impact on the trial's integrity and efficiency, ultimately granting the motion to dismiss.
Following Baldwin's case dismissal, Gutierrez-Reed's attorney announced plans to seek a dismissal in her case, citing similar failures by the state. The judge's decision underscored the need to uphold judicial integrity and ensure the fair administration of justice.
