Alec Baldwin breaks down in tears as his ‘Rust’ shooting trial is thrown out: Updates
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defense
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Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter case in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has been thrown out after just a week of testimony.
The Hollywood actor, 66, broke down in tears and hugged his attorneys and his wife Hilaria after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer announced her decision at the end of a chaotic day in the New Mexico courtroom.
Judge Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defense. The prosecution will not be able to file charges against Baldwin again in Hutchins’ death.
Nearly three years have passed since a prop gun Baldwin was holding went off during a rehearsal of the film’s shooting scene in 2021, striking and killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter and faced 18 months in prison. Now, he walks free.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, has already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her attorney says he plans to move to have her case dismissed.
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RECAP: What happened to Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter case?
Baldwin, 66, became visibly emotional, holding his head in his hands and embracing his lawyer. He then turned around and embraced his wife, Hilaria Baldwin.
The case was dismissed on Friday after it was found that the state had withheld evidence that could have shed light on how live rounds got onto the set of the Rust movie, where the young cinematographer was fatally shot.
“There is no way for the court to right this wrong,” Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said in court adding that dismissal of the case was needed to ensure “the integrity of the judicial system.”
“The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” Marlowe Sommer said. “If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith it certainly comes so near to bad faith to show signs of scorching.”
Members of the actor’s family, including his wife, younger brother Stephen Baldwin and older sister Elizabeth Keuchler — have been present in the courtroom to support him throughout proceedings.
Read full story:
Alec Baldwin’s high profile manslaughter trial thrown out by New Mexico judge
The Hollywood star wept in the court room as the decision made on Friday
Did the ‘Rust’ movie’s tight budget play a part in the tragedy?
Following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, reports emerged that workers had previously walked off the set over complaints of low pay and poor working conditions.
At a cost of $7m, Rust was seen as a low-budget, independent movie – meaning it cost less than $20m and did not have the backing of a major studio.
So did the movie’s tight budget play a part in the tragedy?
The ‘Rust’ movie budget was tight. How does that play into Halyna Hutchins death?
Following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, reports emerged that workers had previously walked off the set over complaints of low pay and poor working conditions
ICYMI: Lawyers for ‘Rust’ armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed move to get case dismissed after Baldwin trial collapses
Lawyers for ‘Rust’ armourer move to get case dismissed after Baldwin trial collapses
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March for Halnya Hutchins’ death and sentenced to 18 months in prison
Lawyers for convicted Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed say they will move to have her case dismissed following the collapse of the prosecution of Alec Baldwin.
The Hollywood star’s involuntary manslaughter case over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was thrown out by a New Mexico judge on Friday afternoon.
“The judge found intentional misconduct and we also have had the same failures in Hannah’s case, by the State. We will be moving for dismissal of Hannah’s case,” said Jason Bowles, attorney for Gutierrez-Reed, following the shock collapse of Baldwin’s case.
Alec Baldwin cuts asking price of Hamptons home by $10m
Alec Baldwin has slashed the asking price for his home in the Hamptons by $10m ahead of his trial for involuntary manslaughter on the set of Rust.
The 30 Rock actor originally listed the 10,000-square-foot farmhouse for sale at $29m in November 2022. It is now on the market for $18.9m following a series of cuts.
On Friday, a New Mexico judge threw out his case and he walked free.
Alec Baldwin cuts asking price of Hamptons home by $10m as Rust trial begins
The actor listed his 10,000-square-foot farmhouse for $29m in 2022. It’s now available for $18.9m
What’s next for Alec Baldwin after manslaughter case dismissal
What’s next for Alec Baldwin after manslaughter case dismissal
A New Mexico judge has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin’s high profile manslaughter trial thrown out by New Mexico judge
Alec Baldwin wept in court after his high profile criminal trial, in which he faced involuntary manslaughter charges over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, was thrown out by a New Mexico judge.
The case was dismissed on Friday after it was found that the state had withheld evidence that could have shed light on how live rounds got onto the set of the Rust movie, where the young cinematographer was fatally shot.
“There is no way for the court to right this wrong,” Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said in court adding that dismissal of the case was needed to ensure “the integrity of the judicial system.”
“The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” Marlowe Sommer said. “If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith it certainly comes so near to bad faith to show signs of scorching.”
Mike Bedigan reports:
Alec Baldwin’s high profile manslaughter trial thrown out by New Mexico judge
The Hollywood star wept in the court room as the decision made on Friday
ICYMI: Eminem references Alec Baldwin and fatal Rust shooting on new album
Eminem has courted further controversy on his new album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) with a blunt reference to Alec Baldwin and the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
The record arrives while Baldwin’s trial for involuntary manslaughter remains ongoing.
On a song titled “Fuel”, Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, raps: “F*** around and get popped like Halyna Hutchins / Like I’m Alec Baldwin, what I mean is buckin’ you down, coup de grâce then / Right between the f***in’ / I shoot ’em all in if you think you’re f***in’ with me.”
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WATCH: Alec Baldwin cries as judge dismisses his involuntary manslaughter case
What happened leading up to Baldwin’s case dismissal?
Judge Sommer put a pause on the trial earlier Friday while she considered the defense motion to dismiss the case over the evidence.
The defense argued that prosecutors hid evidence from them about the ammunition that may be related to the shooting on the set of the Western “Rust” in 2021. The defense said they should have had the ability to determine its importance.
The prosecution said that the ammunition was not connected to the case and was not hidden.
The issue emerged Thursday on the second day of the actor’s trial during defense questioning of sheriff’s crime scene technician Marissa Poppell.
Baldwin lawyer Alex Spiro asked whether a “good Samaritan” had come into the sheriff’s office with the ammunition earlier this year after the trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, for her role in Hutchins’ death.
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison on an involuntary manslaughter conviction, which she is now appealing.