NFL teams
David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

NFL still seeks Greg Hardy evidence

NFL, Carolina Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For the NFL to obtain the evidence it seeks from the domestic violence case against Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, the league would have to get it directly from the district attorney's office and Hardy's defense attorneys.

The NFL had filed a motion to unseal the evidence, but the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Court's office no longer holds it. A spokeswoman from the clerk's office said that evidence was returned last week before the NFL's motion was filed.

The league filed a motion Friday to have all evidence unsealed from Hardy's July 15, 2014, trial in which a Mecklenburg County Judge found him guilty of assaulting and threatening to kill ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder.

Hardy had the charges dropped on Feb. 9 before a jury could hear his appeal because Holder refused to cooperate with the district attorney's office. The league wants the evidence for its own investigation into whether Hardy violated the league's personal conduct code.

Hardy's defense attorneys had filed a separate motion noting the evidence already has been unsealed and sent to the offering parties.

The district attorney's office said "it does not release the contents of its investigative files.''

Chris Fialko, Hardy's attorney, did not return messages. An NFL spokesman said the league had no comment at this time.

Hardy's defense argued in its motion that the evidence is not an option for the court. That means if the NFL wants the evidence, the district attorney's office and Hardy's defense would have to decide whether to turn over the evidence each presented.

Hardy would be subject to a minimum six-game suspension if found to have violated the league's personal conduct code. He will remain on the commissioner's exempt list, where he has been since September, until the league completes its investigation.

The investigation is being conducted by Lisa Friel, a New York City prosecutor who was hired by the NFL in September to help handle cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault.

The NFL's motion argued that because the case against Hardy is over, there is no reason not to make the evidence public.

The NFL likely is interested in pictures of Holder from the night of Hardy's May 13 arrest, among other evidence. Those pictures were not made available to reporters during the first trial.

The Panthers are not expected to re-sign Hardy, who was paid $13.1 million by the team in 2014 despite playing in only one game, although some in the organization are lobbying for his return.

Hardy is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 10.

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