Do you believe physically smashing the previous hard drives with a hammer "destroyed" sensitive information?
Remember, "Absence of proof is not proof of absence"
The Admissibility of "Consciousness of Guilt"
The general rule on the admissibility of evidence regarding how a defendant acts after an alleged crime was committed is usually that the prosecutor can introduce testimony that tends to show that the defendants actions prove he knew he was guilty (at least of something). This is labeled, at least by prosecutors, as ?consciousness of guilt?.
The theory is that since in most criminal trials the prosecutor has the burden of proving the ?mens rea? or intent of the defendant, actions he took to ?cover up? his alleged crime are relevant. (I say ?most trials?, because the state is not required to prove intent in strict liability offenses.)