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By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

On trial: Lindsay Lohan arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court last month over charges of theft from the Venice Beach jewellery store, Kamofie & Co


Tape set to be aired on Monday by Entertainment Tonight

Owners of jewellery store defend move saying their business has been 'hurt'

Prosecution case could now be harmed with vital evidence being sold for cash

Jewellery store's lawyers 'contacted Lohan's attorney and asked for her copy of the CCTV footage' last week


The jewellery store from which Lindsay Lohan allegedly stole a necklace worth $2,500 has sold the surveillance footage for more than $35,000 to an American TV network.

A spokesman for Kamofie & Co in Venice Beach, California, has defended the decision saying the media circus surrounding the incident has 'hurt' the business.

CCTV cameras at the store recorded Lohan, 24, trying on the necklace in question, and the footage was expected to be used as evidence against the actress.

But the sale of the footage could undermine the prosecution's case against the Mean Girls star, who is pleading not guilty to the felony grand theft charge.

It has also been claimed that a lawyer representing the jewellery store contacted Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Holley, last week and asked about obtaining her copy of the CCTV footage in a bid to keep it off the market.

RadarOnline reports that the jewellery store owners need to keep all other copies of the tape off the market so it would not jeopardise the lucrative sale and exclusivity rights.

'The jewellery store owner's lawyer was contacting Shawn Holley and trying to obtain her copy of the video, and also wanted Shawn not show the tape to anyone,' a source told the website.

Holley was said to be furious at the move and has played no part in the sale of the tape.


The jewellery store Kamofie & Co in Venice California, from where Lohan is alleged to have stolen a necklace


Lindsay has consistently claimed she was offered the necklace as a loan by the store, which the store denied.

But if the prosecution calls a representative from Kamofie & Co to the stand, the fact that the store sold evidence vital to the case could discredit their testimony.

Entertainment Tonight has announced that they are now in possession of the surveillance footage and intend to air the video live on their news show in the U.S.

The store has since come under fire, prompting Christopher Spencer, a representative for the business to reportedly tell RadarOnline that the owners sold the footage because Lindsay hurt their business.


Controversial: Lawyers for the jewellery store allegedly contacted Lohan's lawyer Shawn Holley last week and asked for her copy of the CCTV footage in a bid to keep it off the market


'Customers have stayed away from the store because of the paparazzi and the controversy,' Spencer said.

Kamofie & Co are understood to have approached a number of U.S. and European media outlets in an attempt to generate a bidding war.

During Lindsay’s latest court hearing last month, Judge Keith Schwartz made it clear that any plea deal offered to the actress would unquestionably involve jail time.

Lohan instead chosen to face trial over the charge and is next due back in court on Thursday.

A lawyer for Lohan did not return calls.


source: dailymail