A seven-year old boy was at the center of a
Dallas 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 Dallas Cowboys, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable
of beating anyone.