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    20 Shades of Grey including PorpoiseBrendan O'Connor
    11/27/15 2:07pm

    I would think the defense strategy could backfire in this case; the very fact of the women’s “questionable” background is the very reason the proescution contends he targeted them. So reinforcing their background SHOULD bolster the prosecution, right?

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      Cherith Cutestory20 Shades of Grey including Porpoise
      11/27/15 2:14pm

      Yeah, it’s really the only thing a defense attorney can do. It’s his job. But in this case it’s a real toss of the dice. Asking why they didn’t go to the cops emphasizes that they were afraid because of his position of power and their relative vulnerability. It gives them a chance to say that one more time on the stand.

      And asking every single one about her criminal history just highlights that there was the pattern the prosecutors are alleging.

      But what else can you do to defend this guy? Basically, it highlights that any potential defenses he might have suck.

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      hntergrenCherith Cutestory
      11/27/15 2:56pm

      Well—this report doesn’t quite go into enough detail, but I’m curious what probative value evidence of a witness’s prior marijuana use and suspended drivers license has—-certainly not character for truthfulness. I don’t know anything about Oklahoma’s rules of evidence, and impeaching credibility of a witness with prior convictions is par for the course, but it doesn’t seem like any of this is relevant at all...

      Anyway, all that matters in the end is whether the jury believes these witnesses, and their stories sound pretty believable to me.

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    LtCmndHipsterBrendan O'Connor
    11/27/15 2:05pm

    “Cop's attorneys attempt to defend cop using totally normal techniques for defending defendants." Fixed your shitty headline for you.

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      MichaelLtCmndHipster
      11/27/15 2:12pm

      “Shitty rapist cop’s attorneys attempt to defend shitty rapist cop using totally normal techniques for defending defendants.”

      FIFY.

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      armyvet12LtCmndHipster
      11/27/15 2:19pm

      I don’t get why you object to the headline simply stating what a defense attorney normally does.....
      If it’s a normal technique, then why are you objecting to it?

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    jeanneeeBrendan O'Connor
    11/27/15 2:06pm

    Ok, this guy is scum IMO, but this headline might as well say “Defense gathers evidence” or “Defense files motions.” Undermining credibility of accusers and/or witnesses is just something that defenders do, in fact it’s what they are required by law to do as zealous advocates for their clients. Everyone is entitled to competent defense when accused of a crime.

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      armyvet12jeanneee
      11/27/15 2:18pm

      So basically, the headline is correct since that is what defense attorneys typically do? I don’t get why you object to the headline simply stating what defense attorney normally does.....

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      HairyPalmer1jeanneee
      11/27/15 2:20pm

      Sure, Gawker’s bread and butter these days is covering a number of legal proceedings, but they’s never bothered to get anyone who actually knows what he or she’s talking about, so we’re left with this type of blogging. Next up, OMFG defense says that victim contributed to his own injuries ... how dare they!!!!! (click, click, click)

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    Flow BeeBrendan O'Connor
    11/27/15 2:11pm

    I hope that the jury is smart enough to realize that if Holtzclaw can’t defend himself against the facts and is instead targeting the women’s character, that means something.

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      tito_swinefluFlow Bee
      11/27/15 2:26pm

      This is in Oklahoma, so the odds are in the cop’s favor.

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      HumboldtGenesisFlow Bee
      11/27/15 3:52pm

      It’s an all white jury, so I’m sure they’ll be swayed by the character assassinations.

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    Mrs.Choate PFLAG GrandmaBrendan O'Connor
    11/27/15 2:15pm

    When I was a kid the stereotype of a typical cop was the fat, basically helpful, benignly stupid donut addict. By the 70’s, the stereotype was that they were still lazy, though were industrious when engaged in corruption and framing people. These were the guys who were picked on in high school for being chubby, sexually repulsive dimwits who became cops because they couldn’t pass the physical fitness requirements for the army and couldn’t hold down any other kind of job. Now we have the stereotype of the cop who is a racist, woman hating, sexual assaulting, teen murdering, law-breaking sociopath. There was truth in all these stereotypes, but the truth today seems to be getting much more dangerous.

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      PersnicketyPantsMrs.Choate PFLAG Grandma
      11/27/15 5:04pm

      Police Officer = Legalized Bullying

      Add to that, sociopath, as is the case here, and the bullying turns into something much more sinister.

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    PunditGuyBrendan O'Connor
    11/27/15 2:10pm

    I’m hoping this knuckle-dragging piece of filth has a long and prosperous life in prison. But what do you think his defense should do? Invoke Chewbacca? Make him try on black gloves that are too small?

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      Jerry-NetherlandBrendan O'Connor
      11/27/15 2:21pm

      Somehow this seems so much more sinister right now...

      OOOOk-lahoma, ev’ry night my honey lamb and I

      Sit alone and “talk”

      and watch a hawk

      makin’ lazy circles in the sky.

      We know we belong to the land (yo-ho)
      And the land we belong to is grand!

      And when we say
      Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!

      We’re only sayin’
      You’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma!
      Oklahoma O.K.!

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        Kenhe LoginBrendan O'Connor
        11/27/15 2:20pm

        Not to sound like a GEICO commercial, but undermining the testimony of opposing witnesses is what defense attorneys do.

        Still horrific to think about it especially when the perp. is a cop.

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          Meat HelmetBrendan O'Connor
          11/27/15 2:15pm

          Why is this any different because it’s a cop? Pro athletes do this stuff all the time, “she’s a gold digger” “she was drinking/hitting on me”. The problem isn’t what their profession is, the bigger issue is why women are always forced to defend their actions and state of mind when raped, from the get go?

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            PersnicketyPantsMeat Helmet
            11/27/15 5:26pm

            Bingo. Basic human rights for women are conditional upon society’s judgment of her behavior. It’s just another way they try to control us. I for one, would like the “rules” in written form.

            For example, how many inches above the knees can my skirt be before I lose all rights to bodily integrity?

            Are all skinny jeans a license for rape, or just some?

            If I consume alcohol am I “asking for it”?

            If I smile or laugh at a person of the male gender, what rights have I forfeited?

            If I break up with a boyfriend or husband, is he allowed to break into my house and rape me because he’s hurt or angry?

            Am I supposed to have sex with ALL socially awkward unattractive unwashed white guys in my vicinity to prevent them from turning into a mentally deranged mass shooter?

            OR am I supposed to be virginal and pure? (Virgin or whore, which is it and in what circumstances)?

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          SnarkasticBrendan O'Connor
          11/27/15 2:23pm

          He was also a college football player. I’m sorry, but once you combine cop with football player, you get a violently dangerous combo. Even on my squeaky clean university team, there was the occasional guy beating his girlfriend or trying to kick the window out of a police cruiser.

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            PersnicketyPantsSnarkastic
            11/27/15 5:08pm

            Also, wouldn’t be surprised if he started his illustrious career as a rapist in high school.

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            SnarkasticPersnicketyPants
            11/27/15 6:09pm

            Ugh. Now I have to drink to forget this whole story.

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