Miami, FL (AP) - A seven-year old boy was at
the center of a Dade
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 Miami Dolphins,
whom the boy firmly believes are not capable
of beating anyone.
