The fatal incident occurred during a rehearsal at a church in New Mexico
Washington:
Actor Alec Baldwin has broken his silence following the dismissal of involuntary manslaughter charges against him by a New Mexico judge in connection with the tragic shooting on the set of the movie ‘Rust.’ In a statement obtained by Deadline, Baldwin expressed gratitude amid a tumultuous legal battle.
“I am grateful for the tremendous support I have received during this challenging time,” he said.
He also shared a photo of himself taken inside the courtroom on Instagram.
Alongside the photo, he wrote: “There are too many people who supported me to thank now. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness to my family.”
The decision, announced on Friday by Judge Marlowe Sommer, not only dismissed the charges against Baldwin, but also barred any possibility of a new trial, effectively concluding the criminal case against him, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The decision followed a day-long hearing filled with heated arguments over alleged misuse of evidence by authorities.
Judge Marlowe Sommer highlighted the impact of the procedural errors on the fairness of the trial, stating unequivocally: “The late discovery of this evidence has compromised the fundamental fairness of these proceedings. There is no other solution than to dismiss the charges.”
During the hearing, the judge personally inspected a bag of ammunition central to the case, which Baldwin’s legal team said was withheld from them until recently.
This development triggered significant repercussions, including the firing of one special prosecutor and the deposition of another, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Initially scheduled to last two weeks, the trial ended abruptly on the third day, leaving Baldwin visibly moved but choosing to remain silent as he left the courtroom.
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey acknowledged the judge’s decision, although she maintained that there was no conclusive evidence linking the discovered ammunition to the tragic incident involving cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The motion to dismiss, filed by Baldwin’s defense team, highlighted critical evidence that emerged after the trial of the film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.
This included ammunition allegedly matching the fatal bullet, belatedly disclosed to authorities by retired officer Troy Teske in March but not presented to the defense during trial preparations, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The fatal incident occurred during a rehearsal at a church in New Mexico, where Baldwin inadvertently discharged a loaded revolver that he was sure was unloaded.
The incident resulted in the death of Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza, sparking widespread scrutiny over safety protocols on film sets.
The court proceedings against Baldwin have been turbulent, marked by conflicting forensic reports and witness testimony since charges were first filed in January 2023, dropped and later reinstated.
Following the firing, attorney Brian Panish, representing Matthew Hutchins, Halyna’s widower, expressed disappointment while reaffirming his commitment to holding Baldwin accountable.
“We respect the court’s decision. We look forward to presenting all of the evidence to a jury and holding Mr. Baldwin accountable for his actions in the senseless death of Halyna Hutchins,” Panish said in an official statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
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