Groping charge dropped against New England Patriots player Julian Edelman
Prosecutors studied this surveillance camera footage as part of their investigation. (Alan Miller/Globe Staff)
Suffolk County prosecutors say they have dropped charges against New England Patriots player Julian Edelman, who had been accused of groping a woman at a nightclub in November.
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman stands during his November arraignment.Aram Boghosian/Pool/AP
Prosecutors said they were terminating the case against the Patriots receiver because they would not have been able to meet their burden of proving charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
“After a thorough investigation of this case by the Boston Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit … the Commonwealth has concluded that it would not be able to meet its burden at trial of proving each of the elements of indecent assault and battery beyond a reasonable doubt,’’ prosecutors said in a document filed in court today, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office.
“I am very appreciative of the hard work of the County’s public officials and of my attorney Amy McNamee. I am humbled by the support of my teammates and the Patriots organization. I’m just looking forward to focusing on football,’’ Edelman said in a statement.
Edelman was facing the indecent assault and battery charge for allegedly touching a woman inappropriately during the incident at 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 1 at the Storyville nightclub on Exeter Street, prosecutors said.
“The evidence suggests that he approached a woman on the dance floor and took her hand briefly. Review of the videotape indicates that the physical contact between the two was fleeting … and did not meet the elements of any crime,’’ prosecutors said in a statement.
To bring an indecent assault and battery prosecution, prosecutors said, the contact must be proven to be intentional; it must be potentially physically harmful or an “affront to the victim’s integrity;’’ it must be fundamentally offensive to moral values; and there must be no justification or excuse.
“Prosecutors could not prove these elements with the evidence contained in the surveillance imagery, witness statements, and other sources,’’ prosecutors said.
Matt Pepin of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
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