Judge rules Robert Kraft spa video cannot be used in court
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft scored a major victory in his solicitation of prositution case on Monday, as a judge ruled that the video of him allegedly receiving illegal sex acts inside a day spa in Florida cannot be used as evidence in the trial.
A judge ruled that investigators illegally obtained the video evidence against Kraft, which is why it cannot be used.
A Florida judge ruled today that the video of Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft from inside a spa cannot be used because it was obtained illegally. A win for Kraft.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2019
Schefter’s colleague TJ Quinn adds that Kraft’s lawyers will now likely file a motion to have the case dismissed, as prosecutors had cited the surveillance footage as their main evidence all along.
Expect Kraft's attorneys to file a motion to dismiss based on lack of evidence, probably tomorrow. The state can either dismiss charges, appeal the decision or take it to court. But so far they haven't cited any evidence other than the video surveillance.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) May 13, 2019
Kraft has already successfully blocked the release of the spa video to the public, and this should prevent it from ever coming out — legally at least. Two women who run the day spa that Kraft went to filed court documents last month claiming prosecutors have already leaked the video and it is being shopped to media outlets. Kraft’s lawyers have built their case around the idea that the surveillance footage was illegally obtained.
Kraft is facing two charges of solicitation of prostitution, and he has already rejected a plea deal that would have seen the charges dropped. The case has taken a significant turn from where it began, and it appears more likely than ever that the charges will be dismissed.