Alec Baldwin trial temporarily put on hold over evidence dispute
Judge halts testimony and sends jury home for the day
The involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting on the Rust film set was dismissed Friday by a judge.
It was a stunning end to the trial of Mr. Baldwin, who was rehearsing with a gun on the Rust film set in 2021 when it fired a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The judge overseeing the trial, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, halted testimony Friday and sent the jury home for the day after prosecutors objected to the introduction of evidence related to Baldwin's knowledge of firearm safety.
The prosecution argued that the evidence was irrelevant to the charges against Baldwin, who is accused of involuntary manslaughter. The defense, however, argued that the evidence was necessary to show that Baldwin did not act with criminal negligence.
Judge Sommer said she would rule on the admissibility of the evidence on Monday. The trial is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
The dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter charge is a major victory for Baldwin, who has maintained his innocence throughout the trial. However, the prosecution could still pursue a lesser charge, such as negligent homicide.
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