The high-profile trial of Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter ended abruptly on Friday as Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case, citing that critical evidence had been withheld from Baldwin’s defense team. Baldwin, who faced the possibility of 18 months in prison, was cleared of charges related to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust” in October 2021.
Judge Sommer highlighted the prosecution’s failure to share potentially exculpatory evidence—live bullets handed to police by a former officer and family friend of Hannah Gutierrez, the film’s armorer—claiming this oversight was either in bad faith or close to it. “The state’s willful withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate,” said Marlowe Sommer, describing the conduct as “highly prejudicial to the defendant.”
The bullets were reportedly given to police earlier this year, but not disclosed to Baldwin’s lawyers. Crime scene technician Marissa Poppell admitted under questioning that she catalogued the bullets but was instructed not to file them under the “Rust” case. This evidence, Baldwin’s lawyer Alex Spiro argued, could have been favorable to Baldwin’s defense.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey claimed she was unaware of the bullets until recently, despite being present during discussions where it was decided not to file the bullets under the “Rust” case. Morrissey, in a desperate attempt to salvage the prosecution, testified that the bullets did not match those found on the set and had been stored in Arizona until the day of the shooting. Judge Sommer was unconvinced and dismissed the case.
Baldwin, visibly emotional, burst into tears upon the dismissal of the case. Legal experts agree that it is unlikely Baldwin will face criminal charges again for this incident. Los Angeles lawyer Tre Lovell stated, “As far as the criminal proceedings, it’s over. They can’t refile,” noting that recharging Baldwin would constitute double jeopardy. University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias concurred, suggesting that any appeal by prosecutors would probably be unsuccessful.
The dismissal might also affect Gutierrez, who is already serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter, and David Halls, the first assistant director who admitted negligence in a plea deal. Both have launched appeals that could be influenced by the new evidence.
Christopher Melcher, a Los Angeles-based attorney, expressed shock at the rapid and unexpected resolution of the case. “The case unfolded as quickly as I’ve ever seen… It was just absolutely amazing to watch.”
As the dust settles, Baldwin is now likely to focus on potential civil suits that could arise from the tragic shooting, but his criminal proceedings have come to a dramatic end.
