Alec Baldwin trial dismissed after his lawyers accuse prosecutors of hiding evidence
Pool/Getty Images
- Alec Baldwin will no longer face charges related to the death of Halyna Hutchins.
- Alec Baldwin's lawyers accused prosecutors of hiding evidence in the involuntary manslaughter case.
- The judge sent the jury home following the surprise motion to dismiss.
Alec Baldwin will no longer face charges related to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after a New Mexico judge dismissed the case on Friday, The New York Times reported.
Earlier on Friday, Baldwin's lawyers accused prosecutors of hiding evidence in a surprise motion to dismiss his involuntary manslaughter case. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice — meaning Baldwin cannot be indicted again on the same charge — and ruled that the state withheld key evidence.
"There is no way for the court to right this wrong," Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said during her ruling, per the Times.
The evidence in question? Bullets that Baldwin's lawyers said prosecutors did not disclose and put under a different case number, The Times reported.
Sommer donned latex gloves to examine the ammo before sending the jury home for the day.
"The State affirmatively concealed evidence … because the evidence would be favorable to Baldwin," the motion to dismiss reads.
Baldwin's lawyers argued the evidence could explain how live ammo ended up on the set of the movie "Rust," while lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued the bullets had "no evidentiary value whatsoever," according to The Times.
Following the defense's request, during a break in court, Baldwin and his wife Hilaria shared a lengthy embrace, People reported.
Baldwin was on trial in New Mexico for the shooting that killed Hutchins during a rehearsal for "Rust," a Western film he was bankrolling and starring in.
Baldwin's lawyers have said he didn't know there was a live bullet in the gun when it fired.
This is the second time Baldwin has faced charges in Hutchins' death. Prosecutors dropped an earlier case against Baldwin, but the case was reopened earlier this year.
The movie's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was already convicted of involuntary manslaughter and is serving an 18-month sentence. She is expected to be called as a witness in the case against Baldwin.
Representatives for Baldwin and Hutchins' family did not immediately respond to a request for comment.