During the ongoing trial of actor Alec Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter in the “Rust” shooting case, his defense team has accused law enforcement officers and prosecutors of concealing critical evidence related to the origin of the lethal bullet. The defense’s argument seeks to shift the focus away from Baldwin’s actions and onto the question of where the live ammunition came from.
In a dramatic hearing, Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas demanded the dismissal of the case, pointing to a batch of unexamined bullets that were turned over to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office by a potential witness three months ago. However, this evidence was never disclosed to Baldwin’s defense team. The defense argued that this failure to provide potentially helpful evidence violated the rules of evidence.
Special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey countered that the bullets produced by the retired officer, Troy Teske, were of no evidentiary value and were only provided after armorer Hannah Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Morrissey also highlighted the personal connection between Teske and Gutierrez’s stepfather, Thell Reed, a Hollywood armorer and sharpshooter.
The judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, expressed concern over the lack of proper disclosure to the defense team and decided to hold a hearing on the handling of the Teske-supplied bullets. As a result, the day’s testimony before the jury was scrapped.
Baldwin’s defense team has repeatedly accused prosecutors and investigators of misconduct throughout the trial. They argue that the concealed evidence and other missteps warrant the dismissal of the case against Baldwin.
The investigation into the “Rust” shooting has faced scrutiny, with questions surrounding the source of the live ammunition on the set remaining unanswered. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, which was understaffed at the time, struggled to manage the chaotic scene with over 100 film crew members present.
