Actor Alec Baldwin was on trial for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust.” The armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was already found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison earlier in the year. However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed Baldwin’s trial on the third day due to evidence that was not turned over to the defense, a violation of the Brady rule.
The incident occurred on October 21, 2021, when a gun that Baldwin was holding for a scene went off, resulting in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the hospitalization of director Joel Souza. The presence of live ammunition on the set of a Western film remains a mystery to this day. Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, stating that as an actor, it was not his responsibility to check the gun’s safety, as he trusted the experts present on set.
One of the jurors, Martina Marquez, expressed her thoughts on the trial, calling it “pointless” and feeling that Baldwin should not have been on trial at all. Marquez, an oncology scheduler from New Mexico, mentioned that the case seemed mishandled from the beginning, pointing to the body camera footage worn by police officers at the scene.
The investigation into Hutchins’ death raised concerns for Marquez, as the body camera footage showed the disorganization of law enforcement and the mishandling of evidence. The gun involved in the incident was eventually handed to law enforcement by armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, raising questions about the chain of custody and contamination of evidence.
During the trial, prosecutors attempted to portray Baldwin as a reckless individual who ignored gun safety protocols, but Marquez believed it was an unfortunate accident and thought the indictment charge was harsh. She felt that the prosecution needed to pin the blame on someone and expressed doubts about the motives behind targeting Baldwin, questioning if his celebrity status played a role.
In a separate interview, two other jurors from the “Rust” case also expressed doubts about Baldwin’s culpability, highlighting the complexity and controversy surrounding the trial. The dismissal of Baldwin’s trial sheds light on the challenges and uncertainties in high-profile legal proceedings, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations and fair legal processes in cases of tragedy and loss.