Alec Baldwin fights to uphold dismissal of manslaughter case in New Mexico

Alec Baldwin has requested a New Mexico judge to uphold her previous decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against him, stemming from the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal for the film 'Rust' in 2021. The case was dismissed by State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer due to significant evidence withholding by law enforcement and prosecutors, which Baldwin's defense argued compromised his right to a fair trial. The dismissal was made with prejudice, meaning the charge cannot be revived after appeals are exhausted. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey has sought reconsideration of the dismissal, claiming that Baldwin's due process rights were not violated and that there were insufficient facts to support the case. Baldwin's defense contends that the prosecution's actions constituted misconduct, particularly regarding the handling of evidence related to the shooting. During the incident, Baldwin was handling a gun that discharged, resulting in Hutchins' death and injuries to director Joel Souza. Baldwin maintains that he did not pull the trigger, asserting that he only pulled back the hammer. The evidence that led to the dismissal included ammunition brought to the sheriff's office, which prosecutors initially deemed irrelevant but was later argued by Baldwin's lawyers to be crucial to the case. In related developments, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter due to safety protocol violations, while assistant director David Halls received a six-month probation sentence after pleading no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon.