Derek Or Luke-Ch 35
The judge looked around the room and then down at her file before saying, "I understand we are here in reguards to revoking parental rights is that correct"?, Dereks attorney stood up and said, "Mia Cambell for the father mam and yes we are". On the other side of the room a man stood up and said ,"Tony Macey for the mother and we are fighting the removal of Savannahs parental rights".
Olivia said, "I take it that both sides are ready to continue"?, Mia and Tony both nodded their heads in agreement and said, "we are your honor", Olivia said, "alright Ms. Cambell call your first witness". She stood up and said, "I call the father Derek Morgan to the stand", Derek stood up and slowly and made his way toward the witness stand.
The baitliff stood in front of him and said, "please raise your right hand", Derek raised his hand and then baitliff said, "do you swear that the testimony you are going to give is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God"?, Derek said, "I do". After he sat down he watched as Mia walked closer to him.
Mia said, "Derek tell us in your own words why you are here today", Derek took a deep breath and said, "I came home and heard Hank screaming in his room so I ran up the stairs and saw Savannah holding him hard by the arms". Savannah shifted in her seat as Derek said, "she was shaking my son and he never stopped screaming until I took him away from her".
Mia said, "did she give a reason why she did that"?, he said, "she said that she was always alone with him and she couldn't take it anymore", Tony stood up and said, "objection Mr. Morgan is stating things not in evidence". Mia said, "we have pictures and a doctors report on the bruises on Hanks arms your honor".
Olivia said, "overruled, please continue", Mia said, "we want these pictures put into evidence as exhibits 1 through 5 and the doctors report to be exhibit 6". Olivia said, "so noted", Mia then held up a picture and said, "can you tell us what we're seeing"?, Derek said, "these are the bruises on my sons shoulders and arms from the shaking his mother gave him".
Mia handed the picture to Tony and then to the judge so that they could see the treatment given to Hank during the assault, Mia then said, "what did the doctor say about the bruises"?, Derek said, "that this wasn't the first time that Hank had been brought in for this type of visit", Mia said, "not the first time"?, Derek said, "he had been there on several occasions for cuts and a sprained wrist".
Mia said, "did you have any idea about these trips to the ER"?, he said, "no, none", Penelope glanced over at the once smug face of Savannah that was now tear stained from realizing she had a problem. Mia said, "do you regret seeking immediate custody and a divorce from Savannah"?, he said, "no, not one bit, Savannah was my past and Penelope is my future and she will be the mother that Hank deserves, she loves him as if he was her own".
Everybody watched as Mia turned around and said, "no further questions", Olivia looked at Tony and said, "do you have any questions for this witness"?, Savannah shook her head no and he said, "no your honor". She then looked at Derek and said, "you may step down", as he got up and started walking around to his seat Olivia said, "call your next witness", Mia said, "we rest your honor".
She looked at Tony and said, "you can call your first witness", he stood up and grinned and said, "we call Penelope Garcia", Penelopes mouth flew open as she looked around the room. She then stood up and started making her way up toward the witness stand, when she got into the box the baitliff said, "raise your right hand", she raised her hand and took a deep breath.
He said, "do you swear that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God"?, she said, "I do", he then said, "you may be seated". She nervously sat down and watched as Tony grabbed his papers and started making his way toward her, she quickly glanced at Derek and smiled as Tony readied to speak.