Alec Baldwin expressed his gratitude towards his supporters in his first public statement following the abrupt termination of his involuntary manslaughter trial. In a short Instagram post, Baldwin thanked his backers and mentioned his appreciation for their kindness to his family. The trial came to an unexpected end when the judge dismissed the case three days into the proceedings, preventing Baldwin from facing criminal charges in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin was visibly emotional during this development but did not speak to reporters as he exited the Santa Fe, New Mexico, courthouse.
The trial took a shocking turn due to evidence related to ammunition that was brought to the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office by a man who suggested it might be connected to Hutchins’ death. While prosecutors believed the ammunition was irrelevant, Baldwin’s legal team contended that it had been deliberately concealed and filed a motion for the case to be dismissed. The judge found that the omission of this evidence compromised the trial’s fairness, ultimately leading to the closure of the proceedings.
If convicted, the 66-year-old actor could have faced up to 18 months in prison. Despite the premature end of the trial, Baldwin remains appreciative of the support he has received from his community during this challenging time.