Case Dismissed: Alec Baldwin Freed in Involuntary Manslaughter Trial

In a surprising turn of events, actor Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial has been dismissed by a judge, nearly three years after the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins. On Friday, a relieved Baldwin, 66, was seen embracing his wife Hilaria Baldwin, 40, as Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer concluded that there was misconduct by police and prosecutors.

Baldwin, known for his roles in movies like “The Hunt for Red October” and the television series “30 Rock,” had always maintained his innocence regarding the 2021 incident on the set of the film Rust. During a rehearsal on October 21, the actor had been handling a gun when it accidentally fired, fatally hitting cinematographer Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

Baldwin has consistently denied pulling the trigger, instead claiming that he had only pulled back the revolver’s hammer. Had he been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, the actor could have faced up to 18 months in prison. Prosecutors argued that Baldwin violated firearm safety rules by using a real gun during the scene. However, Baldwin’s defense team countered this, stating that he was simply “an actor, acting.”

The defense team also highlighted an important piece of evidence that was not disclosed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. The office had received live rounds of ammunition in March from former police officer Troy Teske, who was a friend of the armorer’s stepfather. These rounds were not recorded or shared with the actor’s defense team, leading to allegations of misconduct by the police and prosecutors.

After hearing testimony from witnesses and reviewing the evidence, Judge Marlowe Sommer determined that the withholding of evidence was indeed misconduct. She stated, “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.” As a result, the judge decided to dismiss the case, and it cannot be filed again.

Although Baldwin’s case has been dismissed, he and other producers still face civil lawsuits from Hutchins’ family and crew members. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies expressed disappointment that the case did not go to a jury, as their goal has always been to seek justice for Halyna Hutchins.

In the aftermath of the trial, Baldwin was visibly emotional, shedding tears as he hugged his lawyers and his wife outside the courtroom. The actor and his wife left without speaking to the media, preferring to keep their thoughts private.

Despite the dismissal, this case highlights the importance of gun safety and the need to ensure proper procedures are followed on film sets to prevent tragic accidents like this from occurring in the future.