Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Trial Dismissed Due to Concealed Evidence
In a dramatic turn of events, Alec Baldwin was overcome with emotion as a New Mexico judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charges against him stemming from a tragic shooting on the set of the film “Rust.” The trial, held in Santa Fe just miles from where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot, ended abruptly three days in.
This marks the second dismissal of charges against Baldwin since the October 2021 incident, and the actor will not face trial again. “There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now,” Baldwin expressed on Instagram. “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”
Baldwin’s defense team argued that police and prosecutors had concealed critical evidence—specifically, a batch of bullets that might have been linked to the shooting. A significant question in the case was how live ammunition ended up on the film set. Baldwin’s lawyers highlighted flaws in the investigation and alleged mishandling of the crime scene.
Their motion to dismiss the case led to a series of unexpected developments, including the resignation of one of the two special prosecutors. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sent the jury home to allow testimony from multiple witnesses about the bullets in question. Baldwin’s attorney claimed these bullets, potentially connected to Hutchins’ death, had been mislabeled under a different case number.
Prosecutors countered that the ammunition was unrelated to the case and did not match the bullets found on the “Rust” set. Despite this, the judge determined that the defense should have been informed about the bullets. “The state’s willful withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate,” she stated. “There is no way for the court to right this wrong.”
The judge’s decision to dismiss the case with prejudice means that Baldwin cannot be charged again. “It was the nuclear option. The case is over,” commented Los Angeles trial attorney Joshua Ritter to the BBC.
In court, Baldwin, known for his role on NBC’s “30 Rock” and his portrayal of Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” was visibly emotional as the judge explained her ruling. His wife, Hilaria, and other family members shared in his relief and tears. Baldwin hugged his lawyers and walked out of the courtroom hand-in-hand with his wife, bypassing reporters without making any statements.
The concealed evidence was brought to light by a crime-scene technician who revealed that Troy Teske, a retired police officer, had handed over live ammunition that might have been related to the case. Teske has connections to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year, and was collaborating with Seth Kenney, who managed props and ammunition for the film.
Following the jury’s dismissal, the court heard from several witnesses, including those leading the investigation and Kenney. Remarkably, one of the prosecutors, Kari Morrissey, testified about the bullets and the reason for not sharing them with the defense, which is rare in such cases. Morrissey stated that from her perspective, the ammunition held “no evidentiary value.” She also explained that her co-prosecutor, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, resigned over disagreements about holding a public hearing regarding the evidence.
The dismissal marks a significant conclusion to a high-profile case that has drawn widespread attention and debate over safety protocols on film sets and the responsibilities of those handling firearms in the industry.
