Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Case Ends

Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter case has come to an end. On Monday, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey announced that she is dropping the appeal of the judge’s decision to dismiss the case.

This move follows a statement from the New Mexico Attorney General’s office, which said it would not push the appeal any further. Baldwin had been accused of manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust in October 2021.

The prosecution claimed Baldwin acted recklessly when he fired a Colt .45 gun during a scene. However, the case was dismissed by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer after the prosecution failed to share important evidence with the defense. The judge criticized the prosecutor’s handling of the case, saying it showed signs of bad faith.

Baldwin’s lawyers argued that the prosecution intentionally withheld the evidence, which could have helped Baldwin’s defense. They also stated that Baldwin, as an actor, was not responsible for gun safety on set and could not have known the gun was loaded with a real bullet.

After the case was dismissed, Morrissey filed an appeal, saying the judge had been misled by the defense. However, since the state attorney general’s office was not willing to continue the appeal, the prosecutor’s office decided to withdraw it.

Baldwin’s legal team celebrated the decision, saying this was a clear sign that Baldwin had not committed a crime. They also praised the rule of law in New Mexico.

Halyna Hutchins' family, who lives in Ukraine, disagreed with the decision to drop the appeal and continues to pursue a civil case against Baldwin and the film's producers.

Prosecutor Morrissey expressed regret that Baldwin would not face criminal consequences but said she hoped the ongoing lawsuits would bring justice for Hutchins’ family.

Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer who loaded the live bullet into Baldwin’s gun, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and is serving an 18-month sentence.

This case has sparked discussion about the safety of firearms on movie sets, and the tragedy has led to the creation of the Halyna Hutchins Foundation, which promotes safety in the film industry.

Despite the case being dropped, the district attorney's office remains committed to pursuing justice in other cases, ensuring fairness and integrity in their work.