❮
❯
VIRAL EXCLUSIVE
July 17, 2024
Alec Baldwin’s Rust Manslaughter Case Dismissed
New Mexico judge threw out citing misconduct by police and prosecutors, who committed a Brady violation by withholding evidence from the defence. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. "There is no way for the court to right this wrong," the judge said in court. By: K Dass.
US - In a surprising turn of events, the
criminal trial faced by actor Alec Baldwin in connection with the fatal
shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film Rust
came to an abrupt end. New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the
involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin, citing misconduct by police and
prosecutors who committed a Brady violation by withholding evidence from the defence.
On October
21, 2021, tragedy struck during the filming of Rust when a gun being
used as a prop discharged a live round, killing Hutchins and wounding Rust
director Joel Souza. Baldwin was originally charged with involuntary
manslaughter in January 2023, but those charges were dropped to allow for
further investigation. He was then charged again in January 20241.
Judge Marlowe
Sommer’s decision to dismiss the case with prejudice means it cannot be
refiled. She emphasised that there was no way for the court to right the wrong
caused by the Brady violation. Baldwin, visibly emotional, wept and embraced
his attorneys upon hearing the news.
The
Controversy
Baldwin has
maintained that he “didn’t pull the trigger,” and conflicting expert opinions
complicated the case. While one police experiment suggested the gun could
plausibly discharge without the trigger being pulled, another forensic analyst
reached the opposite conclusion. The prosecution had initially argued that
Baldwin’s role as a co-producer on Rust extended his responsibility for
crew safety, but Judge Marlowe Sommer ruled against including this aspect in
the trial.
What’s
Next?
With the case
permanently dismissed, Baldwin’s legal battle comes to an end. The tragedy on
the film set has raised important questions about safety protocols,
accountability, and the use of firearms in the entertainment industry. As the
industry grapples with the aftermath, the legacy of Halyna Hutchins remains a
poignant reminder of the risks faced by those behind the scenes.
