A happy ending to a sad case of child abuse.

Columbus, OH (AP- Wire) -A seven-year old boy was at
the center of a Franklin 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 University of
Michigan Wolverines, whom the boy firmly believes
are not capable of beating anyone.