Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter case has been dismissed. The case has seen the renowned actor in and out of the courtroom with a heavy heart. The actor recently made headlines with a trending courtroom video of him and his wife in tears after the judge dismissed the manslaughter case.

The judge in charge of the trial, Judge Mary Marlowe, dismissed the case after agreeing with Baldwin’s lawyers, who claimed the prosecutors hid evidence possibly linked to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust” in 2021.

What Judge Sommer Said About Alec Baldwin’s Manslaughter Case

The 1st Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said that the court cannot right the wrong. According to Sommer, the only suitable remedy was to sanction a dismissal. Sommer’s dismissal was also with prejudice. This means that the involuntary manslaughter case against the actor cannot be filed again.

Alec Baldwin’s Reaction To the Judgment 

The announcement was an emotional moment for Baldwin. The 66-year-old actor cried with his face in his hands as Sommer made the announcement. As lawyers and spectators left the courtroom, Baldwin embraced his wife, Hilaria Baldwin.

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They can both sigh in relief as they escape a fate that would have tested their marriage. If Sommer had ruled differently or if the jurors had unanimously agreed he committed the felony, Baldwin could have faced up to 18 months in prison. 

Why Is Alec Baldwin Being Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter?

It all began with filming. On October 21, 2021, the actor was rehearsing a scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe County. Suddenly, the prop revolver he was holding went off, taking Halyna Hutchins’ life and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

Alec Baldwin’s plea to the involuntary manslaughter charge was “not guilty.” He said he was unaware the revolver contained a live round and that it discharged accidentally while it was pointed at Hutchins on instructions he was following. 

The Missing Evidence

According to Baldwin’s lawyers, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office collected live rounds of ammunition as evidence. However, they did not record them in the official case file or reveal their existence to the actor’s defense team.

Kari Morrissey, the special prosecutor in the case, refused to admit that the disputed ammunition was linked to the case or hidden from Baldwin’s lawyers. Morrissey has also expressed dissatisfaction and disappointment about the ruling but respects the decision.

Morrissey told reporters outside court that the defense attorneys misconstrued the “importance of the evidence.” When asked if she believed her failure was a letdown for the Hutchins family, Morrissey said: “No, we didn’t. We did everything humanly possible to bring justice to Halyna and to her family, and we’re proud of the work that we did.”

Baldwin escaped a felony charge this time, but a separate, ongoing civil suit against him in New Mexico is pending. According to Attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing the family, the dismissal of the first criminal case will not affect the civil suit.

Allred also said it was “in no way, shape, or form an exoneration” of Baldwin. Allred believes justice in this case is crucial to show that everybody, even celebrities, needs to follow accepted safety protocols to promote a safe working environment. 

Brian J. Panish, an attorney for Halyna Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, said in a statement that they respect the court’s decision. “We look forward to presenting all the evidence to a jury and holding Mr. Baldwin accountable for his actions in the senseless death of Halyna Hutchins,” Panish wrote.

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The Dispute Over the Missing Evidence

The dispute over evidence started when Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician Marissa Poppell revealed under cross-examination that a “good Samaritan” brought the ammunition to the authorities earlier this year.

Troy Teske, a former police officer and friend of Thell Reed, the stepfather of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, brought the Colt .45 rounds to the sheriff’s office in March, the same day she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death. Gutierrez-Reed is serving time now and will remain 18 months behind bars.

Baldwin’s attorneys demanded a dismissal of Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter case mostly because of the technician’s revelation. They argued that they should have been informed of the rounds, which would have allowed them to determine whether the ammunition was crucial to the case.

Alec Baldwin’s Charges 

Baldwin was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter and a firearm enhancement charge. However, the latter charge was ultimately dropped. The charges were dismissed altogether in April 2023 thanks to prosecutors citing “new facts in the case.”

However, in January, a grand jury indicted him on an involuntary manslaughter charge once more. Baldwin’s lawyers tried last month to get the judge to throw out the case by arguing that the firearm was badly damaged during forensic testing at an FBI lab. However, they failed, and the motion was denied.

Jason Bowles, the attorney for Gutierrez-Reed, expected the trial to go differently. After Baldwin’s case was dismissed, he promised to seek freedom for his client. Bowles said: “Absolutely shocking the pattern of government misconduct in this case and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s case. We will be moving for her immediate release.”

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