Meanwhile his attorneys attempted to discredit the survivors, highlighting some of the women’s criminal records for drug abuse and prostitution. As reported by The Guardian, Rachel Anspach, of the African American Policy Forum, considered it a sign of progress that Holtzclaw’s case made it to trial at all.
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That’s why he targeted them, prosecutor Lori McConnell argued. “I know that like I’ve been in trouble before, so I mean like, who am I to a police officer?”.
Others were joyous as they prayed for the victims.
The court heard testimonies from a 17-year-old girl who said Hotzclaw raped her on her mother’s porch, while another woman said she was raped by him while handcuffed to a hospital bed. Her DNA was later found on his trousers.
But she could see the officer’s holstered gun at the edge of her vision. “In my mind, all I could think of was that he was going to shoot me, he was going to kill me”, said Ligons, a daycare worker in her 50s who was pulled over while driving home from a night with friends.
Finally he backed away from the auto, and she stood up. “I came forward”, she said. I don’t want to have to take you to jail.
As soon as it was over, J.L. drove to her daughter’s house in tears.
Holtzclaw was accused of manipulating the victims by promising to drop a drug charge against them if they didn’t report the purported assaults.
Some women gathered outside the Oklahoma County Courthouse celebrated Holtzclaw’s conviction by mockingly singing “Happy Birthday”, KFOR reported.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A “serial rapist with a badge” who faces many years in prison for raping black women on his police beat was caught because of the courage of a grandmother who refused to remain silent after he sexually assaulted her, her lawyer said Friday.
The critical theory was blasted by black men all over social media site, who appeared confused with the notion that they were somehow responsible.
Assistant District Attorney Gayland Gieger accused Hotzclaw of exercising “authority on those society doesn’t care about”.
“I didn’t think anyone would believe me”.
Holtzclaw was a calculating, manipulative predator who spent his time in uniform terrorizing black women. After Holtzclaw pulled her over, forced her to expose herself and perform oral sex, she filed a complaint that triggered a search for other victims.
My attacker will not be tried, but Holtzclaw was.
“What kind of police do you call on the police?” Holtzclaw gave her a ride home, followed her into her bedroom and raped her, she said.
“It’s a problem for the nation”, she told The Associated Press.
Later that day, he stopped her while walking and drove her to her mother’s house in the northwest part of the city.
She was the first victim to testify. She alleged that Holtzclaw touched her bare breasts and forced her to expose her genitals in 2014.
Then he bent her over a chair and raped her. They, and many, now await Holtzclaw’s sentencing. All were black, and all but one lived in the same disadvantaged neighborhood.
Defense attorney Adams said Holtzclaw wouldn’t contest that he came into contact with the women or even arrested some of them, only that he exploited them.
“A rape case is always hard”. (OKC Artists for Justice’s Grace) Franklin explains.
When they do go to trial, a courtroom win is never assured: 68 percent of rape cases adjudicated in the 75 largest US counties in 2009 led to a conviction, according to the federal data. It is obvious the jury took their responsibilities very seriously and considered every piece of evidence presented to them.
Holtzclaw was charged with 36 counts for incidents from December 2013 to June 2014, and he was sacked in January 2015. He wanted them to know that he was white. Why would he be doing this?’ He said, ‘You got warrants. “Did he confess?'” Davis testified.
Holtzclaw did not testify in his own defense.
“My heart started beating fast, my hands started shaking”, she said. How can he keep getting background checks, turning his Global Positioning System off?
Holtzclaw, 29, broke down in court as the verdict was being read out.
Jurors began deliberating shortly after 5:20 p.m. Monday after more than five hours of closing arguments. The Oklahoma City Police Department did the right thing, and so did we.
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In a statement, the Oklahoma City Police Department said it believed justice had been served by the jury’s decision.
