by Andrew Hay
SANTA FE, New Mexico — A New Mexico judge on Friday dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against Alex Baldwin after his lawyers alleged police and prosecutors concealed evidence of the source of the live rounds that killed “Rust” cinematographer Helena Hutchins in 2021.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommers ruled Friday, three days after Baldwin’s trial began in New Mexico, at a request by the defense, after hearing evidence including from prosecutors who themselves were called to testify.
Baldwin hugged his wife Hilaria Baldwin, who was in court during this week’s hearing, and his sister Elizabeth Kuechler cried after the judge’s ruling. Baldwin then left the courtroom without speaking to reporters.
The actor’s lawyers said the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office took possession of the live cartridges as evidence in the case, but did not list them in the “Rust” investigation file or inform defense attorneys of their existence.
He also alleged that the bullets were proof that the bullet that killed Hutchins came from Seth Kenny, the film’s prop supplier. Kenny has denied supplying live ammunition to the production and has not been charged in the case. He was expected to testify against Baldwin.
The Colt .45 round at the center of the dismissal was handed into the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on March 6 by Troy Teske, a friend of Thel Reed, who was the stepfather of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez; that same day Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Hutchins’ death.
Marisa Poppel, a technician with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, testified before the judge Friday that the rounds were not hidden from Baldwin and that he was asked to file them and also provided details of how they were obtained under a different case number for the “Rust” case. She disputed Spiro’s claim that the Colt .45 ammunition matched the round that killed Hutchins.
Prosecutors allege that Baldwin played a role in Hutchins’ death because he handled the gun irresponsibly. His lawyers say Gutierrez and others responsible for safety on the set failed Baldwin, and that law enforcement agents were more interested in prosecuting their client than in finding the source of the live rounds that killed Hutchins.
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