This is Couples Court With The Cutlers.
This is the case of Benning v. Bodine.
You all have been dating for two years, you were engaged.
But you've put this relationship on hold
because you believe that she's cheating on you.
Yes sir.
Why are you here today?
Um, honestly, I have always wanted a family of my own.
Uh, my mother passed away when I was 14 years old.
And it just left me real lost, real lonely.
And so, I've one thing I've always wanted as a kid, you know.
And, I met Kayla and
I just thought, that was the one, you know,
had a baby and...
I just felt like, finally, that hole, I filled it, you know.
I had a family again. That's what I wanted.
I can hear it in your voice, the emotion that you have
tied to this particular moment in time.
And so your family is everything to you at this point.
Oh yeah. I don't have much, so...
She is what I got. (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)
And so, this thing that you have wanted
is on the line because you believe Miss Bodine is cheating.
BENNING: Yes.
JUDGE DANA: Miss Bodine, He's put it all in your, in your hands.
He's saying you are his world, you're family.
Are you cheating?
No, Your Honor.
And why are you here?
Because I wanna save my relationship.
I want to prove that I am not cheating.
He makes me a better person.
Like, he's my world.
JUDGE DANA: All right.
JUDGE KEITH: You've been together,
you were happy obviously at one point. You even got engaged.
But now, it's on hold.
What went wrong?
Well... (CHUCKLES)
Five months ago, like I said, the baby was born.
I received a text message while I'm in the hospital.
I'm sitting across from Kayla who is in labor.
I received a text message from a guy telling me that the baby's not mine.
That... that Kayla has been out,
she's been sleeping with him and she's been playing us against each other.
I'm in the hospital with her.
What do you do when you get this info... I mean, what's going through your mind?
It just felt like this man was trying to take something from me
that I worked so hard for.
And, I mean, it's still, when I think about it. It's really...
It gets to me, it upsets me a lot.
JUDGE KEITH: Because you wanted this family.
I still want this.
You never even heard that there might be another guy somewhere.
No, I had no clue. I thought I was the one.
I'm the one, you know, paying for everything,
we're living together, we both got jobs, like...
I...
How was I supposed to know you're out doing something else?
I had no clue.
What do you say to Miss Bodine when you get this message?
I confronted her about it.
I showed it to her and I said, you know,
"Do you know this guy? Are you sleeping with him?"
I was told that she slept with him back in the past while we were not together.
But that she hadn't even talked to him recently. She knew nothing about it.
She told me that he was trying to start problems between us,
that he wanted her back.
Miss Bodine, is this a gentleman you have been with in the past?
Yes, Your Honor, while we was broken up last year.
I have not talked to this man since
July of this year, while we was on a break.
I have never talked to this man while me and Mr. Benning was together.
So, why is he texting your boyfriend, your fiance,
saying that the baby you are literally getting ready to deliver, is his.
BODINE: He wants to be with me, Your Honor.
He's trying to get us to argue so he can
break us up and have me.
And I don't want that.
So, this ex is still, has feelings for you?
Well, obviously, 'cause he's still messaging constantly.
JUDGE DANA: Okay.
You're saying he's messaged beyond this one
when she was in labor?
Oh, yeah, yeah. (CHUCKLES)
JUDGE DANA: Okay, tell us about that.
Well, I was at work
and I get a random message from the same guy.
He sends me a screenshot, just messages, messages,
whole, full conversation between them two.
We was not together, Your Honor.
I actually have one of messages here with me, that he sent.
And at the time that he had...
JUDGE DANA: Ron, could you please get that.
...these messages, we was not together, Your Honor.
We was not together. We was having a rocky spot in our relationship.
I don't care rocky spot or not. We have a baby, we are together.
JUDGE KEITH: So you believe you were on a break and you say you were never on a break.
But she was still your one and only.
BENNING: Yeah, and she knew that I wanted my family.
I've always told her, before the baby was born.
She's supposed to have her mother and her father together at all times.
That's what a family is.
All right. So the message you handed up to us,
this is a screenshot that was sent to you
by the same gentleman who claimed
that the baby, that Miss Bodine was having,
this is the same gentleman?
BENNING: Same guy.
JUDGE DANA: It starts with Miss Bodine. She sent the text.
(READING)
(AUDIENCE GASPING)
And he responds (READING)
(READING)
BODINE: We was not together, Your Honor.
How can you break up with somebody
and accuse them of cheating when we're not together?
We were not together.
JUDGE KEITH: So you admit...
You admit being with this man.
Yes, last year, while we was broken up.
I got these messages two months ago.
But you believe they were sent just recently.
I was at work, I received them just recently.
AUDIENCE: Ooh!
JUDGE DANA: So you still think she is being intimate with this gentleman?
Yeah, I do.
JUDGE DANA: Based on this message?
Yeah.
Are you being intimate with this gentleman?
No, I don't even know where he's at, Your Honor.
I sit in the house all day.
Obviously, you never used to. You asked him when he was coming back.
Two months ago, I have not talked to him.
You told me not to talk to him. Have I talked to him? I have not.
I did tell you not to talk to him. But it doesn't matter two months ago,
three months ago, I don't care. Your daughter is five months old.
Okay, well, I have not...
You should be talking to her dad.
Yes, I made a mistake. Yes.
BENNING: Her dad, not that dad.
But, I have not talked to him.
JUDGE DANA: So, in spite of, being in the delivery room
five months ago, anticipating your baby,
receiving a message from another man claiming
that that baby belongs to him,
you have stayed with Miss Bodine?
Yeah.
JUDGE DANA: Tell me why?
Like I've been saying this whole time, I want my family.
I... I wanna have that. I wanna have that
coming home, you know, your mom's helping you with your school work,
you know, you wanna have dinner where we're all sitting down together at the table.
It, I... I want that.
That's what I want.
JUDGE DANA: That's your dream?
That's what I want this whole time. Yes.
I want the white picket fence.
JUDGE DANA: Do you have any other reason to believe
that Miss Bodine is cheating?
Well, about a month ago, we got into a small argument over something stupid.
I couldn't... I don't really don't even remember what it was about.
JUDGE DANA: Okay.
You know, arguing a little bit,
She tossed her phone at my chest. It hit me in the chest
and she left the house.
So, me being depressed, sad, I go through the phone.
I'm seeing emails, text messages from all types of guys.
And once again, it's the same
disturbing messages that she sent that guy.
And, these are...
Multiple, multiple guys. Not this one.
And they are different from this first guy?
Yes, they're different. They're different.
JUDGE KEITH: Ron, would you hand us those papers please.
Thank you, sir.
BODINE: In the messages he is showing you,
was from August when we was not together, we was broken up.
BENNING: Not all of them are from August.
We were broken up.
JUDGE DANA: Okay, let's take a look.
Let's take a look at these messages.
JUDGE DANA: This is from one gentleman and it says "Text me" and
it gives a phone number.
And then, there's a second one
from June, where Miss Bodine says, "Text me baby."
She was living with me in June.
JUDGE KEITH: And so the next one says, "I wanna... Blank."
AUDIENCE: Ooh!
And then the final message...
Then there's another one.
And this is from July 16th
to a different person...
June, July, August.
JUDGE KEITH: ...that says,
"I like to... Blank.
"I wanna get... Blank and please you."
Now, you don't deny sending these text messages.
You're saying it was because you all were broken up.
We was broken up, we was in a rocky spot.
I can do whatever I want.
BENNING: I don't care. How was that... That was wrong.
We was broken up.
You do whatever you want while we were broken up, why can't I?
Who have I...
What makes it different
between you and I? Nothing.
It makes a big difference when you have a baby and you just out there...
JUDGE KEITH: What makes a difference...
I never had sex
with anybody else.
You haven't?
Well, these text messages...
I am talking!
It's talking.
Talking and doing is two different things.
Am I right?
JUDGE DANA: Well, here's the problem.
Talking and doing something,
talking and acting out is not two different things?
You're completely wrong.
When you're with somebody you do not do that.
We was not together!
Yes, we were.
So how are we... No!
We've been together since April when that baby was born.
No!
break us up and have me.
JUDGE DANA: Mr. Benning, just so the court is clear...
Yeah.
...you believe, because of these text messages
from June, July and August,
that she is in fact cheating.
I do.
JUDGE KEITH: And Miss Bodine, you say,
that you have not been with anyone. This is just talk.
Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE KEITH: You've not been intimate with any man
other than Mr. Benning since your child has been born.
Yes Your Honor.
But I gotta tell you the talk that you having,
he has a reason to believe...
Yes, he does, Your Honor.
I don't deny that.
Mr. Benning, I see that you've bought a witness with you.
BENNING: Yes, I have.
Would you have the witness, would you stand up to the podium, please?
JUDGE KEITH: Would you state your name, please, for the court?
Uh, yes, Your Honor, my name is Anna Russeau.
Miss Russeau, what is your relationship with Mr. Benning?
Uh, his brother is my husband.
So, he's like my best friend, my brother, like, I love him to death.
And what do you know about Mr. Benning's and Miss Bodine's relationship?
Well, I met Jermaine
after Kayla was already pregnant.
So, that's when I was introduced to him.
So, through the end of the pregnancy
till, since Robin's been born.
I've seen it all, I've seen everything that they have gone through.
I've had to sit here and listen to Jermaine cry
because he is so upset about everything that is going on.
I've heard, I've sat there for hours
having him vent to me because he wants his family and he doesn't have it.
And it's heartbreaking.
I don't wanna see him go through this 'cause he deserves way better than that.
And we hear the heartbreak in his voice.
What have you witnessed and experienced?
A lot of their fights, a lot of their arguments.
When he was going through the phone, finding all this stuff,
I was sitting right next to him.
He was genuinely hurt and disturbed by what he found.
Yeah, I was.
Because he believed and it's your understanding
that they were in a relationship.
ANNA: Yeah.
An exclusive relationship.
Yeah, and it's like,
when you get, when he got mad and he'd tell her to leave
because you gotta walk away from stuff just to cool down.
Miss Bodine has testified that she has not had sex with anybody else
since the child was born.
What do you know or believe in that regard?
I believe she is lying.
From the messages that you see,
from just everything that we have found...
This is our business. This is the whole reason why we're here.
Because he wants to listen to his friends and not me.
This is all he does,
is listen to his friends. Why can you not have a mind of your own?
So, your belief...
BODINE: Yes!
At this point, it's nothing about listening to friends,
it's about this message that I'm staring at right now.
That is not a friend that I'm listening to.
That is you, that I'm listening to.
That is you on that message.
BODINE: It is!
Miss Russeau, thank you for your testimony, if you'll have a seat.
Mr. Benning, would you please tell Miss Bodine what is in your heart.
I can hear it but I don't think she hears it.
I mean, I don't see how she don't get it.
Kayla, you know I love you to death.
I always have. I told you at the first time we met.
I wanted to have your kids.
We have a kid together, we've been raising her.
And I don't understand why you have to do this.
What is... That's just wrong!
Why should I not be upset?
I mean, you have a right to be.
But then you really don't because we wasn't together.
I want this to work, I want my family.
I want the same thing you do.
If you wanted this to work, in June,
you would stop. But it kept going, in July,
and then there is one from August.
Dig deeper and I might find one from September, who knows.
And if you find out she is cheating,
what is that gonna do for your relationship?
I'm, I'm done. I can't keep putting myself through this.
I'm getting old, I'm stressing, I'm crying, I'm shaking, I can't keep doing this.
If she's cheating, I'm done.
Completely.
JUDGE DANA: So, you believe,
that cheating is if she's had sex
with some man since your child was born.
Yes.
JUDGE DANA: And if you should find out that that has occurred, you're done.
I'm done.
There's not a doubt in your mind, however,
that you have not cheated.
Right.
JUDGE DANA: And that's what you are here to prove?
Mmm-hmm.
But you understand...
But it's not cheating if we wasn't together.
But he is saying, you all have been together for the last five months.
BODINE: But, we haven't.
We took a break.
JUDGE KEITH: Whose idea was it to take a break?
His.
Because he's saying, you weren't on a break.
BODINE: We was.
You just left.
You, threw your phone at me, you left
last month.
Yes, I left.
You did that. I didn't do that.
'Cause you told me to leave.
You had the baby in the car seat and my clothes packed up.
Did I take you home?
You was wanting to.
Did I take you home? No, you left.
I did leave.
Okay.
That's my point.
JUDGE KEITH: And now, this is all on the line.
All of it.
And I hope she knows that she messed it up.
To get to the bottom of this,
the court ordered Miss Bodine to undergo a polygraph examination.
And we have those results.
But, Miss Bodine,
before we go to the results,
is there anything that you wanna tell this court and Mr. Benning?
That I love you and I wanna be together.
I want to put this behind us.
I love you too.
But if you've been cheating,
I can't put that behind me.
You testified...
BENNING: I'd put you behind me.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
Miss Bodine, you testified that since your daughter was born
you have not had sex with any other man.
Is that what you are telling this court?
Is that what you are telling this court?
Have you had sex with any other man since your daughter was born?
JUDGE KEITH: Now is your time to come clean.
On our break, yes, I have.
JUDGE KEITH: How many men?
Two.
(AUDIENCE GASPING)
You know what, wait a minute, wait a minute.
BENNING: What is a break?
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
BENNING: What is a break?
Wait.
Me too.
You too.
Yeah, 'cause I gotta have some mama talk up in here.
You are playing word games.
Own your mistakes, stop saying, "I was on a break."
You were with two men
after you had a baby with this man.
Period.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
Mr. Benning, tell her how you feel.
You've slept with another guy
while I was taking care of our daughter.
And I don't wanna have anything to do with you anymore.
Period.
JUDGE KEITH: Miss Bodine,
you hurt him and you heard him.
What do you have to say to him?
Wish your decision was different but I do love you.
I can't make my decision any different. I can't.
Mr. Benning, Miss Bodine,
you have this beautiful baby together
and she is the interest you have to protect.
To do that you have to be respectful of each other
because this is not about you, it's about her.
BENNING: It's for sure.
She's the lady of my life right now, I'd do anything for her.
With that, as we say in this court room,
everyone is entitled to a healthy, happy relationship.
I wish you the very best.
Court is adjourned.
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