Knoxville News
Knoxville, TN (AP) 10-22-05
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, in
keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family
unity be maintained to the degree possible, initially awarded custody to
his aunt. 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
University of Tennessee football team, whom the boy firmly believes are
not capable of beating anyone.
Knoxville, TN (AP) 10-22-05
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, in
keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family
unity be maintained to the degree possible, initially awarded custody to
his aunt. 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
University of Tennessee football team, whom the boy firmly believes are
not capable of beating anyone.
