News out of Philadelphia

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Philadelphia (AP) - A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a

Philadelphia Pa 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 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 the Philadelphia

Eagles, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.