New Mexico prosecutors have decided not to appeal a court ruling that dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin following a fatal incident involving cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of the movie “Rust” in October 2021. The announcement, made by the Santa Fe district attorney’s office, comes after Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey chose to withdraw an appeal linked to a July court decision that had already eliminated the charges.
The dismissal stemmed from concerns that police and prosecutors had withheld evidence crucial to Baldwin’s defence. During the trial, it was revealed that potentially relevant ammunition had been submitted to the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office, which prosecutors deemed unrelated to the case. Baldwin’s legal team argued that important evidence was concealed and successfully moved to dismiss the charges.
The district attorney’s office noted that while the New Mexico attorney general could have pursued the appeal, they opted not to do so exhaustively, citing numerous barriers that hindered a comprehensive prosecution of the case. Consequently, this decision effectively finalises Baldwin’s exoneration in this tragic matter.