Alec Baldwin Breaks Down, Cries As 'Rust' Manslaughter Case Dismissed; Halyna Hutchins' Husband Reacts

Alec Baldwin wept in court as a judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against him for the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of "Rust" three years ago.

On Friday, New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sided with Baldwin's lawyers and ruled that law enforcement did not properly share evidence with the actor's defense team, CNN reported.

The judge dismissed Baldwin's case with prejudice, which means it cannot be brought back to court.

After hearing that he was walking away from the trial a free man, Baldwin and his wife Hilaria broke down in tears and embraced each other.

Baldwin could have faced up to 18 months behind bars had he been convicted in connection with the accidental shooting of Hutchins.

In October 2021, Baldwin was practicing using a prop gun for the shoot when a bullet was discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

The actor was accused of violating firearm safety rules by pointing the prop gun at the cinematographer and pulling the trigger.

However, Baldwin's lawyers put the blame on "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and first assistant director Dave Halls, who were in charge of firearm safety on set.

Earlier this week, Baldwin's attorneys had filed a motion to dismiss the case, alleging that authorities withheld evidence of live ammunition.

On Thursday, crime scene technician Marissa Poppell testified that a man handed over bullets to Santa Fe law enforcement in March and told them he believed they were related to the "Rust" shooting.

However, Poppell told the court that the live ammo was not filed under the "Rust" case number but rather under a different case number.

Baldwin's lawyers argued that the ammunition could have been related to Hutchins' death and should have been properly disclosed.

But prosecutors claimed that the bullets were not connected to the "Rust" case and did not match those found on the movie's set.

The judge ultimately ruled that "the state's discovery violation has injected a needless, incurable delay into the jury trial" and therefore warranted "dismissal with prejudice."

The judge said she made the decision to "ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice."

Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty in March of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

Halls received six months of probation and a suspended sentence after pleading no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Reacting to the outcome of Baldwin's trial, Gutierrez-Reed's father told the Daily Mail that it was a "good" decision and that his daughter's case "should also be dismissed."

However, Hutchins' husband of 16 years Matthew Hutchins said in a statement to the outlet Friday that while he "respects the court's decision," Baldwin should be held "accountable for his actions."

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