The "burning bed" defense would forever change the way domestic violence was viewed. A legal strategy served as a catalyst for all legislation regarding domestic abuse. Equally as important, it would also establish the way law enforcement approaches the criminal act. Francine Wilson went to trial for killing her abusive husband in a landmark spousal abuse case that became the subject of a book and television movie, "The Burning Bed." Wilson passed away on March 22 of complications from pneumonia at the age of 69. In 1977, Wilson, whose last name was then Hughes, took the life of her husband, James "Mickey" Hughes, in 1977 by setting fire to their bed while he slept. Her testimony at trial painted a grim picture of the horrors she endured at the hands of her husband. Arjen Greydanus, Wilson's defense attorney, said that the account she gave the jury was effective in her being found not guilty due to temporary insanity. At the time, temporary insanity was not a recognized defense. Greydanus was certain that a traditional self-defense approach would not have resulted in a not-guilty verdict. The case captured the attention of the nation. Wilson's story became the subject of a book and a 1984 TV movie "The Burning Bed" starring Farrah Fawcett. Greydanus' legal "hook" became well known as the "burning-bed" defense. Jim Hughes, Wilson's son, recalled the bad times that outweighed the good. As a child, he could only watch as the police showed up at the family home, only to leave without doing anything. His mom would be battered and bloody after his father threatened her life. He also recalled that after the trial, book and movie, his mother was ready to put it all behind her. She considered that chapter of her life over. Wilson would eventually remarry and move to Tennessee before settling in Alabama, working as a licensed practical nurse.
Understanding the types of domestic violence in California can help you determine if you are a victim of this form of abuse. While most people recognize that physical abuse is not okay, there are other forms that are less common, but just as destructive. We at the Law Office of Steven Medearis have outlined some types that are not as well-known so that you can get help if you are caught in a dangerous relationship. According to American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, your partner can actually commit spiritual abuse by controlling your family's religious preferences. If he or she ridicules you, prevents you from practicing or forces beliefs that you do not agree with onto your children, this is considered spiritual abuse. Manipulating you with spiritual beliefs is also wrong. Other forms of abuse can concern your economic or financial situation. If your partner demands that you choose a certain occupation or prevents you from working altogether, you may be experiencing this type of abuse. This can also happen if your partner withholds shelter, clothes, food or other physical resources from you as punishment or an incentive. Other more obvious forms of financial abuse are stealing or withholding money. Many people do not realize that their partner can be charged with stalking, but certain actions are illegal, even within a marriage. If your spouse unexpectedly shows up at your work to check on you, goes through your garbage, repeatedly calls you or tries to get information about you from your family members or friends, this can be considered stalking. For more information on domestic violence, please visit our web page.
California parents who are splitting up will have to deal with issues of child custody. If you're going into a custody battle, you'll need to know what sort of factors can determine who is awarded primary custody, and what might be a strike against you if you're trying to win it. The Spruce lists out a number of different factors that courts take into consideration when determining how to deal with child custody . Some are obvious factors, such as whether or not you have a criminal history or any felonies on your record. Your physical and mental health will also be taken into consideration, as there are some situations in which one parent may not be considered fit to raise a child on their own by the courts. The interpersonal relationships in your family will also likely be scrutinized. For example, how well you and your ex-spouse can get along will be examined. Your closeness with the child in question may be looked at as well. Consistency and provisional capabilities are also big factors. For example, if you were taking care of your child for the majority of your relationship, the judge may vote for this to continue for the sake of normalcy. If you have the ability to financially provide for your child in a better way than your ex-spouse, this may also be considered. In the end, no two cases of child custody are determined in the same way. It's all up to your unique dynamic as a family, and your relationships with one another.
When many in California think of divorce, often thoughts of a contentious battle between spouses come to mind. Yet divorcing couples across the country are trying to change the face of divorcing families in order to protect their children. As USA Today reports, an increasing number of divorcing spouses are looking for ways to keep the peace so the family unit remains close to unchanged. This may look like a divorced couple becoming neighbors so their children can walk between houses or the entire family celebrating the holidays together. While this is not a solution for couples where there is abuse involved, many couples splitting up are able to put their feelings aside for the kids and remain in amicable communication. When this is possible, a new study suggests that it can benefit the children's long-term health. According to reports from Reuters, research from Carnegie Mellon University found links between bitter divorces and lower immune responses in adults whose parents divorced in their childhood. After quarantining 201 healthy adults who were exposed to a common cold virus, the researchers monitored the adults for signs of respiratory illness. The participants who had parents divorce in childhood and stop speaking to one another were 3.3 times as likely to develop a cold than those who had parents who stayed together. Those who had their parents divorce as children but remain in contact had no increased risk of contracting the virus. The participants whose parents had bitter divorces also showed increased signs of inflammation, which researchers believe could be part of the reason they contracted the virus. This study is part of a growing body of work showing that children of divorce suffer health effects. However, this is the first study to suggest that the level of acrimony in the divorce could actually be a significant factor for the children involved.
