Santa Fe, New Mexico – Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial was abruptly dismissed on Friday after it was ruled that key evidence related to the fatal shooting on the set of “Lust” had been withheld from the defense.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, presiding in Santa Fe, New Mexico, stated that police and prosecutors had withheld from Baldwin’s lawyers a bullet that may have been involved in the death of cinematographer Halina Hutchins and that could have aided his defense.
The case, which could have carried an 18-month prison sentence if convicted, was sensationally dismissed, leaving Baldwin, a top Hollywood star, in tears.
“The state’s deliberate concealment of this information was premeditated. Even if this conduct does not rise to the level of malice, it clearly comes very close and shows signs of severe bias,” Sommer said. “The court concluded that this conduct was highly prejudicial to the defendant.”
The incident occurred during a rehearsal in October 2021 when Baldwin pointed a gun in Hutchins’ direction, causing the gun to fire, killing Hutchins and injuring the director.
Hannah Gutierrez, the film’s armorer who handled the loaded weapon, is already serving an 18-month sentence for manslaughter. Baldwin faced similar charges, with prosecutors alleging he ignored basic gun safety laws and acted recklessly on the set.
Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, argued that the actor was not responsible for checking the contents of the gun and did not know it contained live ammunition. The defense also relied heavily on discrediting the police investigation.
Judge Spiro presented evidence Thursday that live ammunition possibly connected to the shooting had been turned over to police but not disclosed to Baldwin’s lawyers. The bullet was handed over by a “good Samaritan,” a former police officer and family friend of armorer Gutierrez, who claimed the bullet matched the one that killed Hutchins.
Spiro accused police of “suppressing evidence” by not presenting it in the case, denying the defense the opportunity to examine it. “It was a perfect plan,” he told the court.
Crime scene technician Marissa Poppel, under questioning by Spiro, said she catalogued the bullets but was instructed not to classify them as related to the “Rust” case.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey responded, stating she had never seen or heard about the bullets until this week. However, it emerged that Morrissey had been present at discussions deciding not to turn over the bullet to the “Rust” case file, leading her to testify as a witness to save the state’s case. Morrissey claimed the bullets did not match the live ammunition used on set and had been stored in Arizona until the shooting.
Sommer was unconvinced and dismissed the lawsuit, sparking emotional scenes between Baldwin and his family.
University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias commented on the dismissal, suggesting Baldwin is unlikely to face court again for the shooting. “On the criminal side, I think it’s over. The prosecution could try and get a special appeal somehow, but I don’t think any appeals court would agree with the prosecution,” he said. “They should have handed it over, but they didn’t.”
Key Points:
- Case Dismissed: Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial dismissed due to withheld evidence.
- Judge’s Ruling: Evidence of a bullet withheld, prejudicing the defense.
- Incident: Fatal shooting of Halina Hutchins during a rehearsal in October 2021.
- Defense Argument: Baldwin not responsible for checking the gun’s contents.
- Prosecution’s Misstep: Withheld bullet evidence leading to case dismissal.
- Armorer’s Sentence: Hannah Gutierrez serving 18 months for manslaughter.
- Future Implications: Unlikely Baldwin will face court again for the shooting.
