Kiwi

Subject: Court Ruling

Federal Court Ruling from the Melbourne Age, Australia
(AAP) - A seven year old boy was at the centre 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 the 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 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 English Cricket Team, whom the boy firmly believes are not
capable of beating anyone.