Alec Baldwin was left in tears after a New Mexico judge dismissed a manslaughter lawsuit against him for his role in a fatal shooting on the set of “Lust.”
Baldwin’s trial was dissolved after three days in a Santa Fe courthouse, just a few miles from where cinematographer Halina Hutchins was shot with a revolver that Baldwin had used during a rehearsal.
This is the second time since the October 2021 shooting that a case against the actor has been dismissed. He will not face trial again.
“I can’t thank you enough for all the support you have shown me so far,” Baldwin wrote on Instagram on Saturday. “You all will never know how much I appreciate your kindness to my family.”
His lawyers argued that police and prosecutors hid evidence that could have been connected to the shooting, including a packet of bullets.
A key aspect of the case is how the live ammunition ended up on the set, and Baldwin’s lawyers have questioned the investigation and mistakes made by authorities in handling the scene.
Their motion to dismiss set off a remarkable chain of events, including the resignation of one of the two special prosecutors handling the case and the dismissal of the jury by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to hear from several witnesses.
Mr Baldwin’s attorney said the bullet may have been related to Mr Hutchins’ death but was filed under a different number in a different case.
Prosecutors argued the ammunition was not related to the incident and did not match bullets found in the Rust set.
But the judge ruled that the information must be shared with Mr. Baldwin’s legal team.
“The state’s deliberate and deliberate concealment of this information was deliberate and intentional,” she told the court. “There is no way the court can correct this wrong.”
Prosecutors will not be able to refile the case against Baldwin because the judge did not rule the case a mistrial but dismissed it with prejudice.
“It was the nuclear option. The case was over,” Los Angeles trial lawyer Joshua Ritter told the BBC.
Mr. Baldwin, best known for his role on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock and his portrayal of Donald Trump on the sketch show Saturday Night Live, cried as the judge read a lengthy statement detailing the reasons for his dismissal. His wife, Hilaria, covered her mouth. Others in his family cried and laughed.
The actor hugged his lawyer and then his wife, who was sitting behind him. They walked hand-in-hand through the press tunnel to a black vehicle, without answering questions or making any comments.
The evidence came to light on Thursday when a crime scene technician told the court that a retired police officer named Troy Teskey had turned over live ammunition that could be connected to the case.
Mr. Teskey is friends with the stepfather of the film’s weapons maker, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of manslaughter earlier this year.
He worked with Seth Kenny, who helped with props and ammunition on the film set.
After the judge sent the jury home on Friday, the court heard testimony about the bullet from authorities leading the case and a series of witnesses, including Mr. Kenny.
Towards the end of the hearing, one of the prosecutors handling the case, Kari Morrish, took the stand to testify about the bullet and why she did not share it with the defense. It is very rare for a prosecutor to testify in a case where they are claiming their role in the investigation.
Ms. Morrissey testified that the ammunition, in her view, had “no evidentiary value.” As she took the stand, she said her co-counsel, Elinda Ocampo Johnson, resigned on Friday and the judge decided to dismiss the case.
She explained that Mrs Johnson “did not agree with the decision to hold a hearing” on the evidence claims.
