Alec Baldwin celebrated the dismissal of his ‘Rust’ trial with a family dinner in New Mexico.
The 66-year-old actor broke down in tears on Friday, July 12, 2024, when Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled to dismiss his involuntary manslaughter case.
The judge’s decision came after Baldwin’s legal team argued that prosecutors had allegedly hidden evidence related to the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the neo-Western film ‘Rust.’
Following the emotional court session at Santa Fe County District Court, Baldwin was seen in good spirits. Photos obtained by TMZ showed him dressed in black trousers, a dark shirt, and a navy blue blazer during a dinner outing.
Baldwin was accompanied by his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, 40, and his lawyers, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, at the bar in the El Dorado Hotel in Santa Fe. Filming crews for his upcoming reality show, ‘The Baldwins,’ were also present at the celebration.
Baldwin, a father of eight, was later spotted heading to the local Mexican restaurant Casa Chimayo with his entourage, including his brother Stephen Baldwin, 58, who had supported him in court.
Judge Sommer, in dismissing the case, stated: “The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings. If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith, it certainly comes so near to bad faith to show signs of scorching.”
If convicted, Baldwin could have faced 18 months in prison. After the ruling, he embraced and kissed Hilaria, with whom he shares seven of his eight children, and hugged his legal team.
SEE ALSO: Kate Middleton to Follow Strict Rules in Wimbledon Royal Box Return Tomorrow
Despite the dismissal, Baldwin and other producers still face civil lawsuits from Halyna Hutchins’ parents and sister. An attorney for her widower, Matthew Hutchins, said the family respected the court’s decision but still hoped to hold Baldwin accountable for the tragedy.
Meanwhile, ‘Rust’ armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 27, is appealing her involuntary manslaughter conviction and 18-month prison sentence related to Halyna’s death.
The incident occurred when Baldwin was rehearsing a scene, and the gun he was holding discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring the film’s director, Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained in interviews that he did not pull the trigger and was unaware that the gun contained live ammunition.