New Mexico judge denies prosecutor’s bid to reopen Alec Baldwin manslaughter case

New Mexico judge denies prosecutor's bid to reopen Alec Baldwin manslaughter case

As a seasoned film critic with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the Alec Baldwin case has been one rollercoaster ride through the wild west of Hollywood justice. The recent decision by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to deny the reconsideration of Baldwin’s manslaughter case is a breath of fresh air in this tangled web of gunfire and legal intrigue.


As a passionate film enthusiast, I was following the developments in the “Rust” movie shooting case with great interest. Recently, a New Mexico judge declined to resurrect Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter case, turning down a request from the prosecutor who sought to reevaluate her initial decision to absolve Baldwin of any criminal responsibility.

On Friday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of the First Judicial Circuit Court refused to reconsider the dismissal of the felony charge against Alec Baldwin, who is well-known for his role in the problematic western film, when Special Prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey made a request to do so.

As a devoted cinephile, I penned my ruling in a five-page order: “In essence, the State fails to provide compelling factual or legal reasons that warrant a reconsideration of the motion.

Morrissey stated that they don’t align with the Court’s interpretation and plan to challenge the decision made.

In a recent court filing, Morrissey has stood by the state’s management of the case and challenged the evidence – ammunition rounds submitted to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department this year, which could potentially match the bullet that fatally struck “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins three years ago.

However, the judge seemed concerned about the prosecutor’s demeanor towards Baldwin’s legal team, as they argued in July that the actor was not given access to all of the evidence being used against him.

During a July 12 hearing concerning the controversial evidence, Morrissey decided not to present any counter-arguments after the evidence was introduced… Instead, he opted against requesting the court to adjourn the proceedings to give the state more time to investigate and prepare their arguments.

Furthermore, Marlowe Sommer stated that Morrissey’s action was premature, as it came after the prosecutor had missed the August 30th deadline to submit the motion. Additionally, the judge pointed out that Morrissey’s 52-page document surpassed the page limit set by state regulations.

In a Santa Fe courtroom, Baldwin’s trial for involuntary manslaughter related to Hutchins’ death on October 21, 2021, during the filming of “Rust,” was set to proceed, potentially resulting in an 18-month prison sentence. However, as the trial commenced, Marlowe Sommer dismissed Baldwin’s criminal case following the emergence of new evidence.

Approximately a few months ago, an ex-police officer residing in Arizona handed over approximately two dozen .45-caliber bullets to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department, indicating that the ammunition could potentially be connected to the “Rust” shooting incident.

I regret to say that during the investigation of the “Rust” shooting incident, the sheriff’s deputies did not provide the ammunition used to my legal team for examination. Instead, these bullets were stored in the evidence lockup under a case number unrelated to our case.

New Mexico judge denies prosecutor's bid to reopen Alec Baldwin manslaughter case

In simpler terms, Baldwin’s legal team contended that the actor-producer was unjustly deprived of a fair court process as the state failed to disclose all relevant evidence that might have benefited his defense case.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the judge concurred with my perspective and dropped the allegations against Mr. Baldwin without any chance of reinstatement. In legal terms, this means they are off the table forever.

Morrissey contended that the judge’s actions were excessively harsh as the verdict didn’t relate to Baldwin’s situation.

The disputed rounds made it to sheriff’s deputies in a round-about way.

Troy Teske, a former police officer who has since retired, is acquainted with Thell Reed, a well-known Hollywood armorer and the father of Hannah Gutierrez, the weapons handler on the set of “Rust.” In 2021, Teske kept ammunition for Reed, who resides in Arizona as well. As Teske was due to testify in Gutierrez’s trial in early March, he transported the bullets to Santa Fe in case they might be needed. However, Gutierrez’s defense attorney opted not to summon Teske to take the stand.

Gutierrez was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter in the Hutchins shooting.

Prior to departing from Santa Fe, Teske handed over the ammunition to the local sheriff’s office following her sentencing.

In a moment of dismay, the judge found out that three bullets from the gun used on the “Rust” film set seemed to be a match for the one that caused the fatal shooting. This discovery played a role in her choice to drop the charges against Alec Baldwin.

Independently, Gutierrez unsuccessfully attempted this autumn to overturn Marlowe Sommer’s verdict, claiming that the prosecutor had withheld evidence during the trial. Currently, Gutierrez is serving her 18-month sentence in a women’s correctional facility in New Mexico.

Read More

2024-10-25 20:32

Previous post 911 season 8, episode 5 brings laughter and horror for Halloween