Alec Baldwin sobs as he hugs wife Hilaria after judge dismisses manslaughter charges in ‘Rust’ shooting

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Alec Baldwin broke down after the judge in his 'Rust' shooting trial dropped the involuntary manslaughter charge against him on Friday, July 12. 

This decision followed arguments from Baldwin's defense attorneys that the prosecutors had buried evidence, as per People.

To provide background, Baldwin was facing charges for his role in the fatal 'Rust' movie set shooting in 2021, which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injury to director Joel Souza.

Judge Mary Marlows gives her decision in Alec Baldwin’s 'Rust' shooting trial

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer explained her decision to dismiss the case with prejudice by stating, "The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings." 

Before the jury entered the courtroom on Friday, the third day of the trial, Baldwin's attorney, Luke Nikas, requested that the case against his client be dropped, claiming that prosecutors withheld evidence that would have helped clarify how live ammunition was brought onto the set of the Western movie 'Rust' in 2021.

Earlier in the day, during a court recess before the judge made her decision, Baldwin and his family members, including his wife Hilaria, brother Stephen Baldwin, and sister Beth Keuchler, seemed pleased with how things were going. 

Baldwin and Hilaria hugged several times, and Hilaria smiled and laughed with those seated near her in court. Stephen approached Baldwin's attorney Alex Spiro in the hallway outside the courtroom and told him, "You have made us so happy. We are planning to celebrate."

What did Alec Baldwin's attorneys say?

Baldwin, who was indicted by a grand jury in January, was rehearsing a scene on the movie set when the gun he was holding discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. In interviews, Baldwin insisted that he did not pull the trigger and did not know why the gun contained live ammunition. 

Baldwin's lawyers claim that Troy Teske, a friend of Thell Reed, the father of convicted 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed—who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for loading a live round into Baldwin's gun—turned over ammunition to authorities that he believed was connected to the case. 

“We’re talking about a prosecution that didn’t preserve those bullets, that didn’t collect them at all. That didn’t turn them over,” Nikas said.

“This is critical evidence in the case that was never disclosed to us…We were entitled to it,” Nikas added. “This case should be dismissed, Your Honor.”

After a lengthy recess, Judge Sommer heard testimony from witnesses, including Seth Kenney, the 'Rust' props firearms supplier, and Corporal Alexandria Hancock of the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office, where Teske allegedly dropped off the ammunition.

During one tense exchange, Baldwin's attorney Alex Spiro asked Hancock if she was "hiding" any more evidence.

"I don't think I've hidden anything," Hancock replied. 

She admitted that the ammunition Teske handed over was filed separately from the other 'Rust' evidence, and said prosecutor Kari T Morrissey was involved in the decision to file them separately.

In a surprising move, Morrissey called herself to testify under oath, explaining why she didn’t consider the ammunition handed over as 'Rust' evidence.

Under questioning from Spiro, she admitted that her co-prosecutor, Erlinda Johnson, had resigned earlier that day. When Spiro asked, “You just don’t like Mr Baldwin, do you?” Morrissey replied that she “appreciated” Baldwin’s politics and “the acting he did on 'Saturday Night Live'.”

Judge Sommer issued her ruling shortly after Morrissey left the witness stand.

Alec Baldwin's fans are 'happy for him and his family' after charges are dismissed

The video of Alec Baldwin crying after the trial session, where the judge dismissed all charges, quickly went viral on social media, with many people sharing it and offering their perspectives. 

One user expressed, "Judge just threw out the case against Alec Baldwin. This has been a stunning turn of events as the case unraveled in front of our eyes today amid the defense unveiling that prosecutors hid evidence of bullets."

The second user tweeted, "He should've never been charged.  So happy for him and his family." 

The third felt, "Finally! Respect to the judge. So happy for @AlecBaldwin and his family."

The fourth praised the judge saying, "The judge made the correct call."

The last exclaimed, "@AlecBaldwin Very happy for you and your wife.  💙 We know where this came from, and we know now it can be aimed at any of us. You have shouldered a huge burden and I hope the rest of life is blessed."

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