Husband and Wife have three Children together.
Husband is arrested for allegedly murdering Wife … before Children’s eyes.
And then fleeing from the scene with the Children in tow.
Husband is now in jail awaiting trial.
Children are in foster care.
Both sets of Children’s Grandparents are in the process of qualifying as foster parents for Children.
At a family court hearing concerning the Children, Husband requests that the Children visit Husband in jail. Husband believes that the Children would like to visit him in jail.
The Children’s paternal Grandparents support the Children visiting Husband in jail.
The Children’s maternal Grandparents object to any such timesharing with Husband.
The attorney appointed to represent the Children also objects to any timesharing with Husband, because the Children may be called as witnesses at Husband’s criminal trial and Husband might attempt to influence the Children’s testimony during visitation.
Husband’s attorney counters by proposing electronic monitoring to guard against witness-tampering. It is unclear how effectively such monitoring could guard against manipulation.
The Children’s attorney asks the Court to speak with the Children’s therapists before ruling on visitation.
The family court judge indicates he will consider Husband’s request for timesharing but that he will take no action regarding any existing criminal court orders barring or limiting contact with the Children or witnesses in general.
One can only speculate about Husband’s motivations for timesharing.
Read more in this Mankato [MN] Free Press article: Murder suspect requests visitation for kids.
