KWTV News9 10/22/2019
10/23/2019 - Lexington, OK — Former Oklahoma City police officer and convicted serial rapist, Daniel Holtzclaw, spoke under oath for the first time regarding the allegations that resulted in his 263 year prison sentence in 2015. Daniel did not testify at his criminal trial.
Over the past weekend, Holtzclaw was transported by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections from an out-of-state prison facility to the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center, south of Norman, Oklahoma.
An in-person deposition was requested by the attorneys representing 11 of the original 13 accusers that resulted in 36 criminal charges against Holtzclaw. Holtzclaw was convicted of 18 of the charges made by 8 of his female accusers.
The plaintiffs in the federal civil lawsuit were required to pay $6,000 to have Holtzclaw transported from his current prison facility to the deposition location. Holtzclaw is currently being held at an undisclosed prison outside of Oklahoma.
The deposition was closed to the public and held under specific restrictions and a protective order.
Daniel was represented at the deposition by his current civil defense attorney, Kathleen Zellner - of Steven Avery and Making A Murderer fame.
The only details regarding the deposition was a public Tweet sent out by Zellner at the conclusion of Holtzclaw’s testimony.
The Tweet read…
“Today Daniel Holtzclaw forcefully, fearlessly and courageously testified in his lengthy deposition that he is an innocent man wrongfully convicted. He did not take the 5th - he confronted his accusers & made a compelling case that he is innocent.”
To date, many of the accusers and members of law enforcement directly involved in this case have been deposed.
All of the depositions were reportedly videotaped and transcribed. Hopefully all of which will be made available to the public at some point in the future.
The federal lawsuit against Holtzclaw is currently set for jury trial early next year in 2020.
A Change.org online petition seeking the attention and intervention of Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has recently surpassed 40,000 signatures.
Holtzclaw’s initial appeal to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals was denied in August of this year.
Holtzclaw’s defense team is currently working to appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Below is a press release sent out by the Holtzclaw family.
Additional Reporting:
KWTV News9 (10/22/2019 ‘Daniel Holtzclaw Takes Stand, Proclaims Innocence Under Oath In Federal Deposition’
Enid News Eagle (10/22/2019) ‘Holtzclaw declares innocence under oath in federal deposition’