
In a stunning turn of events, a New Mexico judge dismissed Alec Baldwin‘s Rust case on Friday. The dismissal came on day three of Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial in connection with the deadly on-set shooting.
The judge granted the defense’s motion to dismiss the case, in which they claimed that live ammunition related the investigation, which came into the hands of local law enforcement, was “concealed” from them.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said the state’s discovery violation — the late disclosure of a supplemental report on the ammunition evidence — “injected needless delay into the proceedings,” approached “bad faith” and was “highly prejudicial to the defendant.”
“There is no way for the court to right this wrong,” Sommer said in granting the motion to dismiss with prejudice, meaning Baldwin cannot be tried again on the charge.
Baldwin reacted emotionally as the judge explained her ruling.
The decision followed a day-long motion hearing at the trial over the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She was fatally shot by Baldwin on the Santa Fe set of the western in October 2021 when his revolver fired a live round.
The court discussed the defense’s motion in the absence of the jury. In an unexpected move, the special prosecutor on the case, Kari Morrissey, also called herself to testify on the matter.
During cross-examination of Morrissey, it was revealed that the other prosecutor in the case, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, resigned from the case on Friday. Morrissey said it was because Johnson “didn’t agree with the decision to have a public hearing.”
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Lineup announced for ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’
February 6, 2025
NBCUniversalf you've lost track of specials celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night…
Music notes: Ariana Grande, G-Eazy and more
February 6, 2025
Ariana Grande appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night and took part in one of the show's…
Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, Charli XCX, Post Malone have Record Store Day releases for you
February 6, 2025
RepublicPost Malone is this year's Record Store Day ambassador, so it's no surprise that he's…
Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter & more featured on ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’
February 6, 2025
NBC UniversalIf you've lost track of specials celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night…
Kendrick Lamar says it means everything to be first hip-hop act to headline a Super Bowl halftime show
February 6, 2025
Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty ImagesAll eyes will be on Kendrick Lamar when he takes the field…
Outfits from Chappell Roan, Charli XCX on the block for LA wildfire aid
February 6, 2025
Courtesy Julien's AuctionsOutfits worn on album covers, in music videos or onstage by artists like…
Sarah Michelle Gellar confirms ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ reboot: ‘This will be for you’
February 6, 2025
Warner Bros via Getty ImagesBuffy is coming back.Sarah Michelle Gellar has confirmed she is…
Liam Payne’s girlfriend speaks out: ‘I never would have thought this event would have occurred’
February 6, 2025
Darren Gerrish/Getty Images for BFCIn an interview with The Sun published on Wednesday, Feb. 5,…