A US judge has thrown out the involuntary manslaughter case against Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin due to the state withholding evidence regarding how live rounds were present on the film set where a cinematographer was fatally shot.

Legal Dramatics

The trial that commenced three days ago concluded dramatically with Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissing the case due to police and prosecutors' misconduct in withholding crucial evidence related to the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the Rust film production.

“The late discovery of this crucial evidence during the trial impeded the effective use of evidence to the extent that it compromised the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” stated Marlowe Sommer in a Santa Fe court in New Mexico.

The judge declared that the case cannot be reopened, marking the end of Baldwin's legal culpability after a nearly three-year ordeal that originated from a tragic incident on set.

Initial Incident

The incident occurred when a revolver Baldwin was handling accidentally discharged, fatally shooting Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza during a rehearsal.

Following the court's decision, Baldwin, 66, emotionally embraced his wife and family members present in the courtroom.

Baldwin's lawyer, Alex Spiro, highlighted that the Santa Fe sheriff's office failed to disclose the existence of live rounds found as evidence, which could have compromised the investigation.

Case Closure

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies expressed disappointment that the case did not proceed to the jury, reiterating their commitment to seeking justice for Halyna Hutchins.

Kari Morrissey, the lead prosecutor, denied any intention to mislead the court while defending the handling of the evidence.

Halyna Hutchins' unfortunate demise marked Hollywood's first on-set shooting in nearly three decades, involving a firearm mishap loaded by the film's armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Legal Matters

Despite one conviction related to Hutchins' death, the civil lawsuits against Baldwin and other producers from Hutchins's family and crew members are ongoing.

Hutchins's widower and son settled their lawsuit after the incident, with the widower assuming an executive role in the film affected by the tragic event.

Gutierrez-Reed, convicted for involuntary manslaughter, plans to appeal the case based on Baldwin's exoneration.