Alec Baldwin’s first words after being released from the trial for the ‘Rust’ case
Alec Baldwin has broken his silence after the case in which his was accused of the involuntary manslaughter of Halyna Hutchins was dismissed.
The trial for the involuntary manslaughter of Halyna Hutchins against actor Alec Baldwin came to an end earlier than expected. First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer made the decision to dismiss the case after determining that prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense legal team.
The defense argued that prosecutors deliberately hid bullets that were turned over to investigators in March and that were relevant to the case. “The state is highly culpable for its failure to provide this discovery to the defendant,” said Marlowe Sommer. “A dismissal with prejudice is justified.”
The judge also made clear that she was dismayed by the prosecution's failures. For his part, Baldwin was caught sobbing and putting his hands to his face when Sommer announced his decision. His family and friends also congratulated him.
Alec Baldwin's first words after being freed
The actor did not share statements after leaving the court, but this Saturday he published a message on social media to thank everyone for their support. “There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family,” he wrote alongside a photo of him at the trial.
As to whether Baldwin can face another trial in the future over what happened in 2021 on the set of ‘Rust’, Judge Marlowe Sommer ruled that, according to the principle of double jeopardy, Baldwin cannot be tried again.
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What happened in October 2021 on the set of 'Rust'?
The director of photography for the film ‘Rust’, Halyna Hutchins, died on October 21, 2021 after the film’s actor and producer, Alec Baldwin, accidentally fired a prop gun on the recording set during rehearsal.
According to reports shared at the time, the actor had been practicing drawing his gun from its holster when a bullet from the revolver passed through director Joel Souza's shoulder and hit Hutchins in the chest.
Halyna was transported by helicopter to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, while the director was only hospitalized and discharged a few hours later.
Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charges brought against him. Since 2021, the actor has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun before it fired off a bullet. Additionally, he insists that before receiving the gun, he was told that the gun was “cold,” that is one without live ammunition. He has also noted that he was only following instructions when he aimed at Hutchins.
If the trial continued and Baldwin was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, a felony, he could have been sentenced to up to 18 months in prison.