A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a courtroom drama yesterday when
he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.
The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially
awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and
regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree
possible.
The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more
than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her.
When
the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried
out that they also beat him!
After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that
domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took
the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have
custody of him. After two recesses to check legal references and confer with
child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the England
Football Team , whom the boy firmly believes are not currently capable of
beating anyone.