Oklahoma officer's trial defense attacks credibility of vulnerable black women

Molly Redden and Lauren Gambino
Friday 27 November 2015 12.30 GMT

Four weeks into the trial of Daniel Holtzclaw, a former Oklahoma City police officer charged with the sexual abuse or rape of 13 different women, the prosecution has drawn a picture of a predator who followed a cynical calculus: because his victims were black, living on the margins, and had criminal histories, he was confident no one would believe them.

Holtzclaw, 28, is said to have methodically targeted black women with criminal records or a history of drug use or sex work for seven months while he worked the 4pm to 2am patrol. For all but one of his alleged victims, police investigators claim, Holtzclaw used his position on the force to run background checks for outstanding warrants or other means by which to coerce sex.

Prosecutors are now trying Holtzclaw for 36 counts including rape, sexual battery, forcible oral sodomy and stalking, to which Holtzclaw has pleaded not guilty.

But to the alarm of many abuse victim advocates, Holtzclaw’s emerging defense has parallels to what prosecutors claim were the former officer’s real-time calculations. His attorney has aggressively questioned his accusers about their marijuana use, drinking and suspended drivers licenses in an attempt to undermine their credibility.

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