Judge dismisses Alec Baldwin manslaughter case
A judge has decided to drop the involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin. For further details, refer to the full article available on RT.com
TroibNews 
A judge in New Mexico has dropped involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin, citing withheld evidence by the prosecution.
Back in October 2021, during a rehearsal on a movie set, Baldwin discharged a firearm which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained his innocence, claiming he was informed the firearm was safe and did not contain live ammunition.
In court, prosecutors claimed Baldwin "violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety." On the other hand, Baldwin's attorneys called the event an "unspeakable tragedy" and insisted that Baldwin was not at fault as "live rounds were never supposed to be delivered on set," per ABC News.
Baldwin's legal team requested a dismissal of the charges based on the prosecution's omission to reveal they had received a series of rounds when Baldwin's attorneys asked for a ballistic review. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer found this omission significant enough to impact the case's integrity.
“The state’s wilful withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate,” said Judge Sommer. “This disclosure over the course of trial is so late that it undermines the defendant’s preparation for trial. There is no way for the court to right this wrong.”
The court proceedings have emphasized concerns regarding safety on film sets and sparked debate regarding firearm use in filmmaking.
In related developments, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in April for involuntary manslaughter after it was determined she loaded the gun with live rounds.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Back in October 2021, during a rehearsal on a movie set, Baldwin discharged a firearm which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained his innocence, claiming he was informed the firearm was safe and did not contain live ammunition.
In court, prosecutors claimed Baldwin "violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety." On the other hand, Baldwin's attorneys called the event an "unspeakable tragedy" and insisted that Baldwin was not at fault as "live rounds were never supposed to be delivered on set," per ABC News.
Baldwin's legal team requested a dismissal of the charges based on the prosecution's omission to reveal they had received a series of rounds when Baldwin's attorneys asked for a ballistic review. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer found this omission significant enough to impact the case's integrity.
“The state’s wilful withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate,” said Judge Sommer. “This disclosure over the course of trial is so late that it undermines the defendant’s preparation for trial. There is no way for the court to right this wrong.”
The court proceedings have emphasized concerns regarding safety on film sets and sparked debate regarding firearm use in filmmaking.
In related developments, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in April for involuntary manslaughter after it was determined she loaded the gun with live rounds.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
