The manslaughter case against American actor Alec Baldwin was brought to a dramatic close on Friday (12) after the judge overseeing the case ruled that prosecutors had failed to properly hand over evidence to the defense.
In a stunning ruling, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the charges against Baldwin.
Baldwin’s attorney had filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that state investigators failed to adequately share with the defense that a man had given investigators a box of ammunition allegedly connected to the case.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer had dismissed the jury for the day and heard several hours of testimony as she considered the actor’s legal team’s request to have the case dismissed based on allegations that prosecutors failed to properly hand over evidence.
At about 4 p.m. local time, Sommer agreed that the state improperly disclosed evidence to the defense.
“There is no way for the court to correct this error,” he said.
The actor cried when the decision was announced and immediately hugged his wife when the court was dismissed.
The defense motion comes just days after Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial began in connection with the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, on the set of the Western film “Rust” in New Mexico.
Baldwin had pleaded not guilty and, if convicted, could face up to 18 months in prison.
Remember the case
The case has been marked by years of ups and downs, with prosecutors’ reversals, a prosecution stalled over questions about the integrity of the evidence and a steady stream of motions by Baldwin’s team to try to get the indictment dismissed.
Nineteen months after the first charges against actor Alec Baldwin for the death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the case reached a climax this week, as the actor faced a manslaughter trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Halyna Hutchins was shot on location in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the film was being filmed. The director of photography was setting up one of the cameras while Baldwin was rehearsing a scene. The actor fired the loaded gun at Hutchins.
The “30 Rock” star has denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death, saying the gun went off on its own. He denies pulling the trigger, a claim that has become central to the case.
Gunsmith “Rust” Hannah Gutierrez, who mistakenly loaded a live round into the revolver, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced in April to 18 months in prison. Baldwin faces the same charges.
The allegations against Baldwin were initially dropped in April 2023 after new evidence emerged. But in January of this year the criminal case against the actor was reinstated and he was charged again with manslaughter.
A subsequent request by the actor to have the charge dismissed because the gun in question was damaged during testing by the FBI was also denied.
Source: CNN Brasil
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