Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ set shooting case concludes after prosecutors drop appeal

nme.com:

Alec Baldwin‘s ill-fated western Rust in 2021 is now over after New Mexico prosecutors decided not to pursue an appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against him.Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey announced yesterday (December 23) that she was withdrawing her appeal of a judge’s order dismissing the case.On October 21, 2021, Baldwin discharged a revolver used as a prop and was unaware that it had been improperly loaded with live ammunition, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.In a 2023 trial, the 30 Rock actor was charged with involuntary manslaughter in a case which was then dropped, and was tried again in 2024.

The prosecution intended to show that Baldwin was reckless and criminally negligent when he fired the revolver but the case was dismissed with prejudice after Baldwin’s lawyers revealed that the prosecution and the local sheriffs had concealed a cache of bullets that was considered evidence.

Consequently, the case against the actor was dismissed in July.Meanwhile, armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months in prison the following month.Baldwin’s lawyers, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, have praised the decision to withdraw the appeal.“Today’s decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning — this was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime,” they said [via Variety]. “The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico.”The family of Halyna Hutchins were opposed to the appeal being withdrawn.