court tv
Here’s a shocking twist… Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial ended abruptly when the judge dismissed the case after finding that law enforcement withheld evidence that prevented the actor from preparing a defense.
Both Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria, were in tears as the judge apparently dismissed the case.
Baldwin’s attorney, Alex Spiro, claimed authorities deliberately withheld evidence of live ammunition on the set.
Police investigator Marissa Poppell testified that she was instructed by her superiors to prepare a report documenting that police had received the ammunition and file it under a different case number than the Rust case. In other words, the defense can’t see it.
Live ammunition on the set is a key part of the case and could help Baldwin argue that those around him were responsible for lax safety standards.
The judge found that hiding key evidence hindered Baldwin’s ability to defend himself and the only appropriate sanction was to dismiss the case with prejudice. “There is nothing the court can do to correct this error,” the judge said.
One of the prosecutors in the case, Alinda Johnson, resigned during Friday’s hearing amid allegations of a cover-up of evidence.
Story development…
