April nodded in agreement with her mother. “I heard them up there screaming and yelling. I heard my daddy knock over chairs and my mommy would yell at him. He got even angrier after that. She said don’t you hit me. And then I heard a loud noise, that sounded like he slapped her. And then he got even louder”. April told the lawyer.

“Uh huh, I see that” he said as he consulted the evidence photos, of Toni’s bruised eye. “He did give you a black eye, correct?” He asked.

“Yes, it was swollen shut for three days It stayed a dark blue for almost two weeks.” Toni supplemented.

“Now how long would you say this sort of thing happened?” The lawyer asked.

“Quite often” Toni and April said in unison.

“Did he have a history with alcohol and or substance abuse?” Probed the lawyer.

“Yes, he had issues with it in the past, but it was always in spurts.” Toni answered.

“He would usually come home from work in a foul mood and start to drink” Toni supplied.

“Ah ha yes, that is relevant” said the Lawyer.