Gather statement from defendant not without denial (5)
I believe the answer is:
pleat
'gather' is the definition.
(to gather or fold into pleats)
'statement from defendant not without denial' is the wordplay.
'statement from defendant' becomes 'plea' (a defendant pleads guilty or not guilty).
'without' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'denial' becomes 'no' (no is a kind of denial).
'not' with 'no' taken away is 't'.
'plea'+'t'='PLEAT'
(Other definitions for pleat that I've seen before include "Fold in material" , "Fold formed in fabric" , "Flat fold of cloth" , "Fold sewn or pressed into cloth" , "Double fold in a garment" .)