New Delhi, India

Veteran actor Alec Baldwin walked out as a free man. On Friday, a New Mexico judge dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against the actor regarding the death of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust in 2021. 

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Hours after the case was dismissed, Baldwin shared his first statement. Taking to his Instagram handle, the actor thanked all the support he got during the tough time. 

Alec Baldwin: Timeline of events leading to Rust trial

Sharing a picture of him from the trial, the actor wrote, ''There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.''

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The shocking incident that occurred in October 2021 took the lives of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. 

The day had been extremely emotional for Alec and his family. After Judge announced the decision, the Emmy-winning actor couldn't control his emotions. The actor broke into tears as he hugged his wife Hilaria Baldwin in court. 

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Three days after the trial, New Mexico district court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer agreed  with his lawyers that prosecutors and police withheld evidence on the source of the live round that killed cinematographer Hutchins in 2021.

Baldwin faced an unprecedented criminal prosecution as an actor for an on-set shooting and his lawyers said prosecutors dragged him through a "cesspool of improprieties."  Baldwin and his family left court without speaking to reporters.

"The state's withholding of the evidence was wilful and deliberate," Sommer said in delivering her decision. "Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice."

The actor's lawyer Alex Spiro told the court that the Santa Fe sheriff's office took possession of live rounds in March as evidence in the case but failed to list them in the Rust  investigation file or disclose their existence to defense lawyers.

"The real reason you didn't inventory that evidence is because it could have jeopardized the law enforcement case," Spiro told Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office Corporal Alexandria Hancock, the lead investigator on the Rust case, in cross examination on Friday. 

(With inputs from agencies)