American actor Alex Baldwin’s trial has been dismissed after the defense suggested that the prosecution had hidden evidence.
The trial collapsed three days into Baldwin’s trial in Santa Fe, at a court just miles from where Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer, was shot with a revolver that Mr Baldwin was using in rehearsals.
The family of the victim had pushed for involuntary manslaughter and the prosecution had taken it to trial. However, it was dismissed. It is the second time the case against the actor has been dismissed since the October 2021 shooting. He will not be tried again.
“There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now,” Mr Baldwin wrote on Instagram on Saturday. “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”
A key aspect of the case has been how live ammunition ended up on the set and Mr Baldwin’s lawyers have questioned the investigation and mistakes made by authorities who processed the scene.
Prosecutors argued the ammunition was not connected to the case and did not match bullets found on the Rust set.
The judge ruled, however, that they should have been shared with Mr. Baldwin’s defense team regardless.
“The state’s wilful withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate,” she said from the bench. “There is no way for the court to right this wrong.”
The prosecution would not be able to charge Baldwin again as the judge dismissed it with prejudice.
“It was the nuclear option. The case is over,” Los Angeles trial attorney Joshua Ritter said.
The actor hugged his lawyers and then embraced his wife, who was seated behind him.
