Judge closes door on reopening Alec Baldwin manslaughter case for now: report

Last update:October 26, 2024, 11:01 IST

The case, linked to the tragic 2021 shoot of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, was initially dismissed and it appears that decision will stand.

Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey reportedly intends to appeal further. (Photo credit: X)

The saga surrounding Alec Baldwin’s dismissed manslaughter case appears to be coming to a quiet end, as recent events suggest he won’t be appearing in a courtroom again anytime soon. The case, linked to the tragic 2021 shoot of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, was initially dismissed and it appears that decision will stand. Judge Mary Marlow Sommer ruled firmly Thursday, reportedly writing: “Considering the State’s arguments set forth in the Amended Motion and Reply, the Court concludes that the State raises no factual or legal argument justifying the grant of a motion. reconsider”.

He made clear that prosecutors’ attempts to resurrect the case were not convincing enough to influence his trial. “Therefore, the Amended Motion was not well adopted and should be denied,” Sommer declared, dealing a blow to the prosecution’s case. While special prosecutor Kari Morrissey reportedly intends to appeal, sources suggest this may not carry much weight.

The incident in question occurred on October 21, 2021, while the cast and crew of Rust were filming at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe. During a rehearsal, Baldwin was handling a Colt .45 when it went off unexpectedly, fatally wounding Hutchins and injuring the film’s director, Joel Souza. Baldwin, who has consistently claimed he did not pull the trigger, saw legal trouble arise after it was alleged that bullets related to the shooting were turned over to the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office without the knowledge of Baldwin’s team, Deadline reported.

Sommer dismissed the case four days after Baldwin’s trial, citing problems with the handling of evidence. The key to their decision was reportedly a set of bullets turned over to authorities by Troy Teske, a former police officer and friend of the father of Rust gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. While prosecutors argued that the bullets were unrelated to the shooting, Sommer seemed unconvinced by this defense.

If Baldwin had been convicted, he could have faced up to 18 months in prison. However, his claim (that the gun misfired without the trigger being pulled) was contradicted by the findings of the FBI and the gun manufacturer.

While Baldwin may be out of trouble from a criminal perspective, he is not completely free of legal battles. Nearly a dozen civil lawsuits related to the Rust tragedy remain active, and although he recently returned to the public eye with an appearance on SNL, his legal troubles may still cast a shadow.

Baldwin’s representatives have yet to issue a response to Sommer’s recent ruling, although it is unclear if they will do so, Deadline reported. Meanwhile, a final version of Rust will premiere next month at the Camerimage Film Festival in Poland, although Baldwin will not attend.