Alec Baldwin sobs, breaks down as judge tosses out ‘Rust’ involuntary manslaughter case in shocking twist
Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter case was abruptly thrown out in a stunning development Friday — as a New Mexico judge slammed prosecutors for withholding critical evidence from the defense.
Baldwin, 66, sobbed in Santa Fe court as the charges — stemming from the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” — were suddenly tossed.
The dad of eight hugged his wife Hilaria Baldwin, who was also crying, before climbing into an SUV without speaking to the media.
Following a full day of hearings outside of the jury’s presence, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said “the sanction of dismissal is the only warranted remedy” and ruled that the charges could not be filed again.
“The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” Marlowe Sommer said in court.
The shock ruling came on the third of trial in the involuntary manslaughter case in which Baldwin — who’s in the midst of shooting a reality TV show focused on his brood — faced a maximum of 18 months behind bars for the death of Hutchins, the film’s cinematographer.
The judge sent the jury home early Friday after lawyers for the “30 Rock” star filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that live ammunition related to Hutchins’ 2021 shooting was “concealed” from them.
“The state is highly culpable for its failure to provide this evidence to the defendant,” Marlowe Sommer said. “The state’s willful withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate. If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith it certainly does come so near to bad faith as to show signs of scorching prejudice.”
The allegation prompted a marathon hearing where Sommer heard from several witnesses, including prosecutor Kari Morrissey taking the stand herself, claiming the ammunition was not connected to the case and had not been hidden.
“Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed — who had already been convicted on involuntary manslaughter charges at a separate trial — was slated to testify Friday before the judge paused proceedings.
The court had already heard testimony from the sheriff’s crime scene technician Marissa Poppell, who Baldwin’s attorneys grilled over what they suggested was a shoddy and subpar hunt for the live ammunition that killed Hutchins.
Defense attorney Alex Spiro argued that a mysterious “good Samaritan” brought in bullets said to be the ammunition that killed Hutchins to the sheriff’s department — after Gutierrez-Reed had already been sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
Spiro said that investigators had “buried” this evidence and it had not been shared with the defense in either Baldwin’s case or that of Gutierrez-Reed.
Prosecutors argued that the good Samaritan was a friend of Gutierrez-Reed’s father and did not match the live ammunition that was found on the set of “Rust.”
The allegations also come as Spiro suggested that law enforcement accelerated their search so prosecutors could focus on Baldwin, especially because some investigators created a close relationship with the film’s weapons supplier in the aftermath of the tragedy.
It took investigators just one day to search the church where the shooting took place, but another week for investigators to obtain a search warrant to search the supplier’s prop truck, Spiro said.
No live rounds were found in the truck, despite other bullets being discovered “all over the set,” he noted. The supplier, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, was also the one who opened the safe and let detectives through the truck.
Baldwin was accused of recklessly flouting gun safety when he fired a real gun mistakenly loaded with a live round on the set of the Western “Rust,” killing Hutchins, 42, and wounding director Joel Souza in October 2021.
The “Saturday Night Live” alum has repeatedly maintained his innocence, insisting he cocked the hammer but did not pull the trigger on the weapon.
Neither Baldwin’s defense team nor the prosecution responded to The Post’s request for comment. Messages left with representatives for Hutchins’ family were not returned.
Gutierrez-Reed is appealing her conviction — and legal experts say the shock ruling in Baldwin’s case could impact hers.
Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, filed a wrongful death suit — which was settled last year. Shortly after, production of “Rust,” which had been paused, resumed with Matthew Hutchins named as executive producer of the film.
Production of the Western wrapped in May 2023.
