The involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin collapsed Friday when a New Mexico judge dismissed the case with prejudice.
The stunning announcement came hours after Baldwin's defense attorney Alex Spiro argued that prosecutors hid critical evidence from them that may have been crucial in the case.
"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," Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said, according to The Associated Press. "If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith, it certainly comes so near to bad faith to show signs of scorching."
The judgment came after a tense day of scrutiny of the prosecution, including the resignation of Special Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson and Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey taking the stand to defend her discovery in this case.
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This entire trial stemmed from the 2021 shooting on the Santa Fe movie set of "Rust," in which Baldwin was accused of firing a live round that fatally struck the film’s director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, and injured director/writer Joel Souza.
Central to the trial were allegations that Baldwin, as both the lead actor and a producer, failed to adhere to industry safety standards, court documents stated. Prosecutors argued Baldwin disregarded established protocols, including inadequate firearm training, and allowed unsafe conditions on set, ultimately leading to the tragic outcome. They contended Baldwin was negligent in handling the firearm, contradicting his claim that the gun discharged without him pulling the trigger.
In response, Baldwin's defense asserted that safety on set rested with professionals like armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director David Halls, who had been entrusted with ensuring the firearms were safe and properly managed. In a cross-complaint filed by Baldwin's defense, they argued that neither Baldwin nor others present were aware that live ammunition had been loaded into the gun, believing it to be safe for use.
Outside the jury's presence on Friday, crime scene technician Marissa Poppell testified that some ammunition from the crime scene was filed under a different case number, unbeknownst to the defense.
After the judge dismissed the case, Baldwin broke down in tears and hugged his attorneys. He left the courthouse without making a public statement.
"Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was expected to take the stand Friday, but that never happened because of the dispute over evidence. Gutierrez-Reed was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Hutchins and was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
Baldwin also faced 18 months in prison if he had been convicted. The judge's decision to dismiss the case with prejudice means that no future charges can be brought against Baldwin.
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