In a stunning victory for "Rust" actor Alec Baldwin, a New Mexico judge has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge against him. The decision comes as the armorer for the film, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, files an expedited motion for a new trial or dismissal, citing discovery violations and prejudicial rulings.
A New Mexico judge has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge against actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting on the set of the film "Rust." The judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, ruled that the prosecution had concealed evidence from Baldwin's legal team, thereby violating his right to a fair trial.
The dismissal of the charge against Baldwin comes after a lengthy trial that focused on the actor's handling of the gun that discharged a live bullet, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The prosecution argued that Baldwin was negligent in his handling of the weapon, while the defense maintained that the shooting was an accident caused by a series of unforeseen events.
Judge Dismisses Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Charge, Armorer Moves for New Trial
Following the dismissal of Baldwin's charge, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, has filed an expedited motion for a new trial or dismissal. Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Reed's motion alleges that the prosecution withheld crucial evidence from her defense team, including the final ballistics report on the bullet that killed Hutchins. The motion also claims that the court erred in its ruling on jury instructions and that Reed's trial was tainted by prejudicial media coverage.
Judge Dismisses Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Charge, Armorer Moves for New Trial
The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" occurred on October 21, 2021. According to witnesses, Baldwin was rehearsing a scene in which he fired a gun at the camera. However, the gun contained a live bullet, which struck and killed Hutchins.
The prosecution alleged that Baldwin was responsible for Hutchins' death because he failed to follow proper safety protocols and acted recklessly on set. The defense argued that the shooting was an accident and that Baldwin did not know the gun contained a live bullet.
Judge Dismisses Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Charge, Armorer Moves for New Trial
In her ruling dismissing the charge against Baldwin, Judge Sommer stated that the prosecution's concealment of evidence had deprived Baldwin of his right to a fair trial. The judge also found that the evidence against Baldwin was insufficient to support a conviction for involuntary manslaughter.
The dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin is a significant development in the case. It remains to be seen whether Reed will be successful in her motion for a new trial or dismissal, and whether Baldwin will face any other charges related to the shooting. The legal proceedings surrounding the "Rust" tragedy are likely to continue for some time.
