Prosecutor in ‘Rust’ case urges judge to review dismissal of Alec Baldwin’s criminal charges

New Mexico prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey is asking the judge to reconsider dismissing criminal charges against actor Alec Baldwin in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the “Rust” movie set. Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the trial was dismissed due to suppressed evidence involving live ammunition. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer determined that the evidence had been mishandled and dismissed the case with prejudice. Morrissey now argues that the mishandling of the live ammunition was not intentional and should not affect the charges against Baldwin. She believes that mistakes were made, but there was no malicious intent. Co-prosecutor Erlinda O. Johnson also stated that she did not believe the evidence was intentionally suppressed. Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger on the gun that killed Hutchins, and the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has already been found guilty and is serving a prison sentence. Morrissey’s latest court filing emphasizes that the details of how the live rounds were introduced to the set are not relevant to Baldwin’s manslaughter charges. Baldwin’s legal team has not yet commented on the prosecutor’s request for reconsideration.

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