Voluntary and Involuntary Action

Robert and Madison have been married for three years. For the first years and a half they were happy together. Then Robert lost his job and since has been unable to get another job. He didn’t particularly like that Madison was the bread winner instead of him. As he be became more frustrated he started spending less time at home and more time at bars. Each day he drank more and more. This is when the beatings began. Robert started to beat Madison on a regular basis, it almost became the norm Madison would be surprised if Robert didn’t beat her. Shortly after his drinking problem began he started to gamble. Madison didn’t like that he was gambling considering that he didn’t have a job. She confronted him about it but he just slapped her and told her to mind her own business.

The more money Robert lost the beatings became more severe. Madison thought about leaving but she was too afraid of what Robert would do to her. She was also still in love with him even though he treated her like trash. One night Robert beat her mercilessly for no apparent reason. He beat her so badly she was unable to get up. At that moment Madison decided it was time for her to leave Robert. The next day as Madison was packing Robert came home and asked what was going on. Madison told him that she was leaving even though she still loved him she couldn’t take the beatings anymore. Robert started walking toward her she closed her eyes thinking he was going to hit her but he didn’t. He instead hugged her and apologized for hitting her saying he didn’t know what he was doing. Madison forgave him and began to unpack.

A week later Robert came home and was angry, he had lost more money than he had ever lost at the casino. He went directly to the kitchen to grab a beer. He then went to the living room to watch the TV. Madison was sitting in the living room reading a magazine. Madison tells Robert that he shouldn’t drink anymore because he had already drank too much. Already angry Robert gets up and slaps the magazine out of Madison’s hands. He begins to slap her in the face. Robert stops to take off his belt, Madison attempts to make a run for it by climbing over the couch. As she’s climbing over Robert pushes her and she falls and hits the floor. He walks to the other side of the couch and starts hitting Madison with his belt. After a while he stops and tells her to stay on the floor and then kicks her in the stomach.