Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Trial Thrown into Jeopardy Over Withheld Evidence Allegations

The involuntary manslaughter trial of Alec Baldwin has been disrupted after the actor's defense attorneys accused prosecutors of concealing crucial evidence related to the ammunition used in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Santa Fe Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has halted the trial's proceedings to hold an urgent hearing after Alec Baldwin's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case based on allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. The defense team contends that investigators and prosecutors have withheld evidence that could exonerate their client.

The crux of the defense's argument lies in the source of the live ammunition that caused the tragic accident on the set of "Rust" in 2021. Investigators have failed to determine the origin of the live round that was loaded into the revolver used by Baldwin, leading to the fatal shooting of Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza.

Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Trial Thrown into Jeopardy Over Withheld Evidence Allegations

Baldwin's defense maintains that prosecutors suppressed evidence indicating that Seth Kenney, the owner of a prop company, may have provided the deadly rounds. A month after the shooting, retired police officer Troy Teske delivered a collection of rounds to crime scene technician Marissa Poppell, claiming they came from Kenney and matched the fatal bullet.

However, the defense alleges that Poppell failed to properly catalog the rounds under the "Rust" case, instead assigning them to a different case number. The rounds, which defense lawyers claim have similar characteristics to the fatal bullet, were never submitted to the FBI for testing. Furthermore, a supplemental report filed by Poppell after receiving the rounds was also withheld from the defense.

Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Trial Thrown into Jeopardy Over Withheld Evidence Allegations

Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey has denied the allegations of evidence suppression, claiming that the live rounds in question are not a match to the fatal bullet. She characterized the defense's focus on the rounds as a "wild goose chase" and emphasized that the ammunition in question had already been tested by the FBI.

Judge Sommer personally examined the disputed rounds in court, sparking a tense exchange with Morrissey. The judge dismissed Morrissey's claims of dissimilarity, prompting the prosecutor to argue that it was only her opinion.

Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Trial Thrown into Jeopardy Over Withheld Evidence Allegations

The unexpected turn of events has cast doubt on the continuation of Baldwin's trial. The jury has been dismissed, and the judge is weighing the defense's allegations before making a decision on whether to proceed with the case or grant the motion to dismiss.

Prosecutors assert that Baldwin, under New Mexico law, was responsible for ensuring the safety of the firearm and should have been aware of the inexperience and incompetence of armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who loaded the live round.

Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Trial Thrown into Jeopardy Over Withheld Evidence Allegations

Baldwin's defense counters that the actor was assured that the gun was safe before the shooting and was not obligated to independently inspect it. They maintain that the prosecution has failed to prove Baldwin's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.