AceShowbiz - Alec Baldwin found a reason to celebrate this weekend as he joined his family and friends for a dinner outing shortly after his manslaughter charges were dismissed by a Santa Fe, New Mexico court.

The charges stemmed from a fatal 2021 on-set shooting during the filming of the movie "Rust," which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. The incident occurred when a prop gun Baldwin was rehearsing with discharged live ammunition.

Baldwin, who has maintained in interviews that he did not pull the trigger and was unaware of live ammunition on the set, faced up to 18 months in prison if found guilty. His defense attorneys argued that crucial evidence was buried by the prosecution, which ultimately led to the case's dismissal.

On the memorable Friday, July 12, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled to drop the case with prejudice, referencing "the late discovery of this evidence" that "impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings." Baldwin's attorney, Luke Nikas, emphasized that the prosecution failed to preserve and disclose evidence, specifically bullets that were discovered and were arguably critical to the case.

The revelation came after former police officer Troy Teske handed over potentially relevant ammunition to authorities, which was then filed separately from other "Rust" evidence. This led to striking moments in court where Judge Sommer herself inspected the bullets, ultimately deciding that their mishandling compromised the case's integrity.

Following the verdict, Baldwin was visibly emotional, sharing a tearful embrace with his wife, Hilaria. Later that evening, he stepped out for a celebratory dinner at Casa Chimayo restaurant in Santa Fe, joined by his brother Stephen Baldwin, sister Beth Keuchler, and a group of friends.

Hilaria arrived at the party later despite being a constant support throughout the trial. Baldwin, donned in a black t-shirt, blue blazer, and blue slacks, appeared relieved and animated as he mingled, basking in the support of his family and fans who cheered him on.

The dismissal has not only brought relief to Baldwin but has also sparked discussions around the only other person convicted in the "Rust" case - armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Hannah is serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

Her father, legendary Hollywood armorer Thell Reed, contends that the same critical evidence which vindicated Baldwin was suppressed in her case, calling for her conviction to be revisited and possibly overturned.

The unexpected turn of events in Baldwin's case has provided a glimmer of hope for those seeking justice reform, highlighting the importance of transparency and proper evidence management in legal proceedings. The celebration was a reminder of the relief and joy such victories can bring, yet it also cast a needed spotlight on others still fighting for fairness.