Alec Baldwin Breaks Silence On 'Rust' Trial Victory After Sudden Dismissal
By Kristin Myers on July 13, 2024 at 1:00 PM EDT
Actor Alec Baldwin took to Instagram on Saturday morning to express his thanks to the fans that had supported him throughout his "Rust" trial.
His involuntary manslaughter trial related to the October 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins came to an abrupt end on Friday after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer determined that prosecutors had worked with law enforcement to bury evidence that could have been favorable to Baldwin, also known as a Brady violation.
The "30 Rock" actor's trial was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that he cannot be charged again. It does raise the question as to whether armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will be granted an appeal, as she is currently serving 18 months behind bars after she was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year.
Alec Baldwin Breaks Silence After 'Rust' Trial Comes To An Abrupt End
On Saturday morning, the 66-year-old actor took to Instagram to thank his legal team, his friends, his family, and his fans for their support throughout his "Rust" trial.
"There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now," he wrote in the caption of a photo that showed him sitting in the courtroom, looking somber. "To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family."
Actor Anthony Hopkins was one of the first to respond, dropping a red heart emoji in the comments. "We love you," wrote comedian Amy Sedaris along with three red heart emojis. "You are surrounded by so much love from your family and all! So glad this is over for you. We are so grateful for the judge seeing through the misconduct of the prosecution and your incredible legal team never wavering for your justice. You should never have been charged. Hugs to you, Hilaria, and your family," another follower wrote as many fans expressed relief that the trial was over.
Judge Sommer Dismissed Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Trial With Prejudice
On Friday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Alec Baldwin with prejudice, meaning that he cannot be criminally charged for the death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins again.
“The state’s discovery violation has injected a needless, incurable delay into the jury trial,” Sommer said. “Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice. Your motion to dismiss with prejudice is granted.”
Prosecutors had seemingly worked with law enforcement officials to hide a box of evidence that was presented to law enforcement officials by a "Good Samaritan" in the days following Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's trial. However, the defense remained ignorant of this evidence until the trial had already started, leading to a Brady violation.
One Prosecutor Stepped Down During Friday's Hearing
During Friday's hearing, special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson decided to resign due to the suppression of evidence done by both law enforcement officials and the prosecution.
On Friday night, she told TMZ that she believed that Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer made the "right decision" when she decided to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin.
“As prosecutors, we have obligations to disclose all the evidence. When I learned this morning of the existence of the evidence that had not been disclosed, I believed that the right decision was to dismiss the case,” she said. “When my voice was not heard, I asked to withdraw from the case. We not only owe a duty to the people, but to the defendants accused of crimes as well. The prosecution must always be above reproach.”
Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey Will 'Respect The Court’s Decision'
Although lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey is unhappy with the judge’s decision to dismiss the case, she said that she will "respect" the fact that Alec Baldwin will no longer face criminal charges in connection with the October 2021 shooting of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
“I believe that the importance of the evidence was misconstrued by the defense attorneys,” Morrissey told reporters on Friday after the judge made her decision. “But I have to respect the court’s decision.”
“I didn’t know that the ammunition that became the subject of today’s hearing existed,” she told reporters after the trial was dismissed.
“There is no reason to believe that the evidence that we discussed in court today was related to the set of ‘Rust,’” she said, via CNN. “It never left the state of Arizona. I understand that the court disagrees with me and I respect the court’s decision.”
When asked if she felt that she let down Hutchins' family, Morrissey said, “No, we didn’t.”
“We did everything humanly possible to bring justice to Halyna and to her family and we’re proud of the work we did,” she added.
Halyna Hutchins' Widow Matthew Hutchins Still Wants Justice
On July 12, Matthew Hutchins revealed that he still plans to take Alec Baldwin to court over a civil lawsuit that he originally filed in January 2022. The lawsuit was settled in October 2022, but he might be looking to pursue a breach of agreement case against "Rust" producers.
“We respect the court’s decision,” his attorney, Brian J. Parish, told Deadline following the dismissal of the criminal trial. “We look forward to presenting all the evidence to a jury and holding Mr. Baldwin accountable for his actions in the senseless death of Halyna Hutchins.”
