Legal Team Requests Trial Dismissal
The ongoing trial for Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter has been paused as his legal representatives seek to have the case dismissed due to alleged concealment of ammunition evidence.
On the third day of Baldwin’s trial, his attorneys claimed that the sheriff’s office in Santa Fe possessed live rounds related to the case but failed to disclose them in the investigation file or to the defense team.
Alex Spiro, the actor’s lawyer, asserted during a hearing that the ammunition’s existence was kept hidden from them while the jurors were absent from the courtroom.
Contrary to this claim, prosecutors maintain that the ammunition was irrelevant to the case and was not intentionally concealed.
Postponement and Further Deliberation
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer decided to halt the trial and dismissed the jury for the day to review additional evidence pertaining to the dismissal motion. The jurors were instructed to return on Monday for further proceedings.
Circumstances of the Case
Baldwin faces charges of involuntary manslaughter following the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was fatally shot by a gun discharged by Baldwin on the film set in New Mexico in October 2021. The actor, aged 66, has entered a plea of not guilty.
Throughout the trial, Baldwin has consistently denied pulling the trigger, insisting that the gun discharged accidentally, and disclaiming responsibility for weapon safety checks.
The defense team’s motion for dismissal follows their interrogation of the sheriff’s crime scene technician regarding potential evidence concealment involving ammunition provided by a “good Samaritan” after the conviction of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez in the shooting case earlier this year.
Regarding Ammunition Evidence
Baldwin’s lawyers suggest that the ammunition delivered by the “good Samaritan,” formerly an Arizona police officer and associate of Gutierrez’s father, may be linked to Hutchins’ tragic demise. This ammunition was allegedly sourced from the Rust prop supplier, Seth Kenney.
During Gutierrez’s trial, it was claimed that dummy rounds she handled on the shooting day originated from Kenney, but these assertions were refuted by the prosecution.
Prosecutors argue that the rounds introduced later by the Samaritan do not match the live rounds discovered on set in size or composition. They view this as an attempt to divert the investigation in defense of a personal connection to the case.
While the state considers the ammunition insignificant, Baldwin’s defense contends that its concealment was unjustified.
The judge’s ruling on the motion is pending, with NBC News, Sky’s US affiliate, indicating a potential decision later in the day.
