In a surprising turn of events, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of the First Judicial District of New Mexico has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin.
The case stemmed from the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie “Rust” in 2021. Baldwin, who was both starring in and producing the film, claimed the gun discharged accidentally after he followed instructions to point it at Hutchins.
Judge Sommer agreed with Baldwin’s lawyers that prosecutors had suppressed key evidence that may have been linked to the shooting. Specifically, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office had taken possession of live rounds of ammunition as evidence but failed to properly document them or disclose their existence to the defense team.
“There is no way for the court to right this wrong,” said Judge Sommer. “The sanction of dismissal is the only warranted remedy.” The dismissal was with prejudice, meaning the involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin cannot be refiled.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer was nominated to the First Judicial District Court by Governor Bill Richardson in 2007. She has presided over several high-profile cases in New Mexico, including the trial of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death.
The dismissal of the charges against Baldwin is a major legal victory for the actor, who faced up to 18 months in prison if convicted. His lawyers had previously argued that the gun was badly damaged during forensic testing, but that motion was denied.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, but said she respects the ruling. Morrissey maintained that the disputed ammunition was not linked to the case and had not been hidden from Baldwin’s defense.
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The dismissal of the case against Baldwin comes after a long and tumultuous legal battle. The charges were originally filed in January 2023, after being briefly dropped in April 2022. The actor’s lawyers had also sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that Baldwin’s role as a producer was not relevant to the trial.
With the case now dismissed, Baldwin’s attorney, Jason Bowles, said he will seek the immediate release of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the “Rust” armorer who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Bowles described the “pattern of government misconduct” in both cases as “absolutely shocking.”