New Mexico special prosecutor Kari Morrissey has withdrawn her appeal of the dismissed manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin, effectively ending the criminal proceedings stemming from the tragic 2021 Rust shooting incident, per variety.com.
The decision came after the New Mexico Attorney General’s office declined to pursue the appeal, citing “significant procedural irregularities” in the original case. Lauren Rodriguez, spokeswoman for Attorney General Raúl Torrez, described an appeal as “untenable” given the judge’s harsh criticism of the prosecution’s handling of evidence.
The case against Baldwin, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, initially collapsed last July when Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed it mid-trial. The dismissal came after revelations that prosecutors failed to provide crucial bullet evidence to the defense, with the judge describing the prosecution’s conduct as “so near to bad faith as to show signs of scorching.”
Baldwin’s legal team hailed the decision as “final vindication,” maintaining their client’s innocence throughout the proceedings. “This was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime,” stated his attorneys, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas.
While the criminal case has concluded, Hutchins’ family, who opposed the appeal’s withdrawal, continues to pursue civil litigation against Baldwin and the film’s producers in New Mexico state court. The tragic incident has sparked industry-wide scrutiny of on-set safety protocols, particularly regarding firearm usage in film production.
The case’s resolution comes as Rust, the film at the centre of the controversy, recently premiered at Poland’s EnergaCamerimage festival.
Meanwhile, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armourer who loaded the fatal bullet, continues serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the incident.
•Featured image: Alec Baldwin in court/GettyImages
