A Tulsa County judge denies a motion to disqualify the district attorney as prosecutor of a Tulsa police officer charged with murder.
TPD officer Shannon Kepler’s attorney Richard O’Carroll alleged Steve Kunzweiler told a key witness what to say earlier this year.
"He could be arrested right now for obstruction of justice and suborning perjury," O'Carroll said.
Kunzweiler and Judge Caroline Wall disagreed. Kunzweiler said the judge at the earlier hearing gave O’Carroll every opportunity to delve into the matter, citing two dozen pages of transcripts.
"When I was given my first opportunity on redirect examination, I clearly addressed what Mr. O'Carroll chose not to address," Kunzweiler said.
Kunzweiler said his only advice to the 13-year-old witness was to tell the truth.
"You know, if Mr. O'Carroll thinks I did something wrong, file a bar complaint and let that record bear out. I'm confident in my answers," Kunzweiler said.
O’Carroll says the matter will come up again.
"Well, do you think I'm not going to feature the fact that a witness, a crucial witness, is testifying that the prosecutor told him what to say?" O'Carroll said.
The court considers the issue resolved. Another result of this hearing is a second shooting with intent to kill charge will be filed. Kepler is accused of shooting and killing his daughter’s boyfriend last year.
