In a dramatic turn of events, the involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin in the “Rust” movie shooting incident has been dismissed with prejudice by New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer.
The decision came on Friday, July 12, 2024, after the defense argued that crucial evidence had been intentionally withheld by the state.
Key Evidence Withheld:
- Live Ammunition Collection: A collection of live ammunition was turned over to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office by Troy Teske, a retired police officer from Arizona, in March 2024. This ammunition reportedly matched the type of live bullet that killed Halyna Hutchins.
- Undisclosed Report: The Sheriff’s Office created a report about these ammunition rounds that was never disclosed to the defense.
- Separate Case File: The ammunition evidence was logged under a different case file, separate from the main “Rust” case file, which prevented its disclosure to the defense team.
- Photographic Evidence: In November 2021, Teske sent authorities a photo of ammunition that didn’t match rounds found on the “Rust” set. This photo was sent to the case detective at the time but was not disclosed to the defense.
- Potential Source Information: Evidence that could have explained how live bullets wound up on the movie set was not disclosed to the defense.
The judge ruled that the state had intentionally withheld this crucial evidence, which severely impacted the defendant’s ability to prepare for trial. Judge Sommer described the state’s actions as “purposeful and calculated,” emphasizing that this mishandling of evidence fundamentally affected the fairness of the proceedings.
Impact on the Jury
The trial had commenced with jury selection, and a predominantly female jury of 11 women and five men had been seated. However, the jury was dismissed for the day while the court discussed the defense’s motion to dismiss the case. The judge’s decision to dismiss the case came before the jury could hear the full case or deliberate, thus they did not have the opportunity to consider the evidence or make a decision on the case[1][2][3].
Dismissal with Prejudice – NO Re-Trial
The dismissal with prejudice is a significant legal victory for Baldwin, as it prevents the case from being refiled. This development marks a crucial turning point in the legal saga surrounding the “Rust” shooting incident.
Baldwin, visibly emotional, broke down in tears and embraced his wife upon hearing the judge’s decision. The actor had maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings, pleading not guilty and asserting that he bore no criminal responsibility for the accidental discharge of a live round from the prop gun.
Prosecutorial Misconduct Alleged
The judge’s ruling highlighted severe misconduct by law enforcement and prosecutors. Judge Sommer stated, “The state is highly culpable for its failure to provide this discovery to the defendant.
The state unilaterally withheld the supplemental report”. She further added that if this conduct
“does not rise to the level of bad faith, it certainly comes so near to bad faith as to show signs of scorching“.
This dismissal brings a significant chapter of the Rust legal saga to a close, highlighting the critical importance of proper evidence handling and disclosure in ensuring a fair trial. The case has drawn widespread attention to safety protocols in film production and the responsibilities of those involved in handling firearms on movie sets.