Judge to issue ruling in Parnell custody trial
Testimony concluded Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court in the three-day trial between U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell and his estranged wife, Laurie Snell, for custody of their three children.
Senior Judge James G. Arner said he intends to review the volumes of evidence submitted, testimony and his notes before issuing a decision — as soon as possible.
“The past week has been unquestionably the most trying in my young family's life,” Parnell said in a statement following the conclusion of the custody hearing Tuesday. “I love my kids, and being their father is the greatest honor I have ever had. Now that I have had the opportunity to present my case, I will not have anything further to say until the judge issues his ruling.”
The day began with cross examination of Parnell, where he said a photo of a bruise on the bare-skinned back of a person was not his son. The photo did not show the person's face.
Snell's attorney Jill Sinatra said the photo is of one of this sons. Snell previously testified that she heard Parnell strike one of their sons in February 2018 and witnessed him punch a closet door, causing it to fly open and strike the other son in the face. They have three children ages 12, 11 and 8. Two are boys and one is a girl.
“That is not a picture of my son,” Parnell said.
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