Alec Baldwin’s legal team strongly opposes the reopening of the manslaughter case related to the shooting incident on the set of the movie “Rust.” They argued that there is no valid reason to revisit the case and demanded that New Mexico cover the legal fees incurred due to the ongoing legal battle.
The defense team submitted an affidavit from one of the prosecutors involved in the case, highlighting that the lead prosecutor, Kari Morrissey, had instructed her to ignore a defense request for evidence before the trial began.
The trial in Santa Fe, N.M., was abruptly halted when the judge dismissed the charge against Baldwin after it was revealed that the prosecution had failed to provide crucial evidence to the defense. This decision spared Baldwin from facing up to 18 months in prison for his role in the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Despite the judge’s initial rejection of the motion to reinstate the charge, Morrissey filed a revised version in an attempt to pursue the case further. However, Baldwin’s lawyers countered by accusing Morrissey of withholding evidence and providing false information throughout the trial process.
An affidavit from Morrissey’s co-counsel, Erlinda Johnson, shed light on the ethical concerns surrounding the case. Johnson revealed that she resigned from the case due to the prosecutor’s refusal to dismiss it voluntarily after the discovery of withheld evidence.
Furthermore, Baldwin’s legal team emphasized that there are no grounds to reopen the case and called for Morrissey’s motion to be dismissed due to procedural violations. They also suggested that Baldwin’s attorneys’ fees should be covered as a sanction against Morrissey for her alleged abuse of the judicial process.
While Morrissey hinted at the possibility of appealing the judge’s dismissal, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer on the “Rust” set, is currently serving an 18-month sentence for her involvement in the incident. She too is seeking to have her case dismissed on the basis of discovery violations, with a hearing scheduled for the upcoming week.
The ongoing legal battle surrounding the “Rust” case continues to unravel, with conflicting narratives and ethical concerns casting a shadow over the proceedings. As the legal teams clash over the reopening of the case, the fate of those involved remains uncertain, raising questions about accountability and justice in the aftermath of a tragic accident on a movie set.