Renowned actor Alec Baldwin could potentially face a retrial in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of the movie "Rust." Prosecutors claim that Baldwin's legal team employed deceptive tactics to influence the court into dropping involuntary manslaughter charges against him last month. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey has filed motions urging the court to reconsider the dismissal of the manslaughter case in order to pursue charges against the "30 Rock" star.

According to court filings, Morrissey vehemently denies any allegations of a cover-up of key evidence by the prosecution. Instead, she argues that Baldwin's defense engaged in legal subterfuge in order to secure the dismissal of the case. In the 52-page court document, it is alleged that Baldwin's defense team was aware of the live ammunition or "Teske rounds," despite their claim of ignorance, and effectively used this supposed lack of knowledge as a legal argument to have the case thrown out. Morrissey argues that this tactic was successful in swaying and confusing the court.

The motion further claims that the defense had ample opportunity to cross-examine witnesses on the evidence and even canceled an opportunity to view the rounds prior to the trial. Baldwin's attorneys, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, had previously cried foul over the alleged concealment of live ammunition related to Hutchins' shooting.

During the July hearing, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer heard testimonies from multiple witnesses, including Morrissey, who asserted that the ammunition in question was not relevant to Baldwin's case and had not been hidden from the defense. However, based on the withholding of evidence by law enforcement and prosecutors, along with false testimony regarding physical evidence, Judge Sommer dismissed the case "with prejudice" midway through the trial. This means that the case cannot be filed again after all appeals have been exhausted.

The unexpected ruling came on the third day of the involuntary manslaughter trial, in which Baldwin was facing a maximum sentence of 18 months behind bars if convicted. The incident occurred in October 2021 when Baldwin allegedly picked up a gun, unaware that it was loaded with a live round, and unintentionally shot and killed Hutchins. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office affirmed that neither Baldwin nor first assistant director David Halls were aware of the ammunition in the gun.

Halls later pleaded guilty to one count of negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a sentence of six months of unsupervised probation. The armorer on the set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Gutierrez-Reed's legal team is currently appealing her conviction.

The filming of "Rust" resumed in 2023 following the fatal shooting and is expected to be released in 2024, although there is a possibility of further delays. With the possibility of a retrial looming, the legal battle surrounding the tragic incident continues to unfold, bringing the spotlight onto both the entertainment industry and the complexities of on-set safety procedures.