ESC

For His Birthday, Ex-Cop Daniel Holtzclaw Got a Dose of Justice, 263 Years for Multiple Rapes

You got a birthday present, Daniel Holtzclaw. 29 years on this earth. At least 13 rapes of underprivileged black women. On December 11, 2015, piece of human garbage, former Oklahoma City Police Officer Daniel Holtzclaw, was found guilty in 18 out of the 36 charges against him. He nervously and hopelessly sobbed as his verdict was delivered.

Charges filed against him were no less than heinous, including sexual battery, lewd exhibition, forcible oral sodomy, rape in the first and second degree-all in the instances of women who were in no position to be able to report their cases to police in a climate of rape culture.

White man, black women. Who does the public generally believe?

Holtzclaw’s attorney argued just that. With victims like drug addict S.H.  high on PCP, she shares her recollection of assault with disbelief:

I just really can’t believe it because it’s the police. And I thought stuff like that only just really happened on movies. I couldn’t believe what was going on was really going on.

To not expect something until it’s happening to you. To expect that the police are there to help until they are not. How can one not be disillusioned?

While the defense tried to discredit the women:

The prosecution, meanwhile, argued that he’d used his badge to specifically exploit vulnerable women, including those who didn’t think they’d be believed because of their records.

Thankfully, he was found guilty.

For each of the 36 counts, the jurors, who were all white, were tasked with both determining the verdict and, in the case of a guilty verdict, recommending a sentence. They recommended 263 years.

In recent events, the system has seemed to fail to deliver justice for the victims it promises to protect … but in this case, there was a victory.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments