Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SANTA FE, N.M. — Alec Baldwin‘s manslaughter case has been dismissed, after the judge blasted prosecutors for failing to turn over a batch of bullets to the defense.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer threw out the case, ruling that no other sanction was sufficient. “The state is highly culpable for its failure to provide discovery to the defendant,” Marlowe Sommer said. “Dismissal with prejudice is warranted.” Gasps were heard the courtroom, as Baldwin received hugs and congratulations from his family and supporters.
He and his wife, Hilaria, exited the courthouse and entered a black GMC Suburban. They did not address the throngs of media outside. “This was a disaster for the New Mexico judicial system,” said John Day, a lawyer and local legal commentator. “They got a huge allocation of public funds to prosecute this case.
And this is what happened with that. This was an absolute catastrophe.” The defense argued that prosecutors deliberately hid bullets that were turned over to investigators in March, and which are relevant to the case.
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