Cleveland OH (AP) - A seven-year old boy
was at the center of a Cuyahoga County 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 regulation requiring that family unity be maintained to the
highest 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 and said 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 the child
welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Cleveland
Browns, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.
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