Joke Du Jour! >A seven-year-old boy was at the centre of a Newcastle 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 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 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 Sunderland >Football Club whom the boy firmly believes are incapable of beating >anyone.
