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Topline
Alec Baldwin will no longer face prosecution for involuntary manslaughter after the judge dismissed his case Friday, according to multiple outlets, allowing the actor to avoid potential prison time for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in 2021.
Key Facts
A New Mexico judge found the state withheld evidence that could have provided information on how the shooting occurred, choosing to dismiss the charges with prejudice, meaning they can’t be filed again.
Baldwin’s lawyers specifically alleged the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office seized live ammunition as evidence but did not officially record the evidence in the case file or turn it over to the defense.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued the ammunition was not connected to the case or hidden, characterizing arguments over the bullets as a “wild goose chase that has no evidentiary value whatsoever,” according to NBC News.
Baldwin pleaded not guilty to the charge.
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Key Background
The shooting of Hutchins occurred when Baldwin was practicing a quickdraw with a prop gun on the set of “Rust” in New Mexico. The gun discharged, striking the cinematographer in the chest and director Joel Souza in the shoulder. Discussion around how live ammunition made it onto the “Rust” set was a large point of contention in the lead-up to Baldwin’s trial and the trial of the movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Baldwin has also claimed in the past he didn’t pull the trigger, and has argued he wasn’t the primary person responsible for on-set safety. The case against Baldwin has faced a bumpy road. The charges were dropped last year and brought again earlier this year due to evidentiary issues, and a gun enhancement that could have led to a multiyear sentence was tossed out last year after Baldwin’s lawyers argued the law creating the gun enhancement wasn’t in effect at the time of the shooting.
Further Reading
Judge in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial dismisses case (Forbes)
Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Involuntary Manslaughter Trial Starts Today—Here’s What To Watch For (Forbes)
