A few weeks back, I posted this:
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6246845349625856/never-thought-would-see-this-my-family-circle
So, in latest developments:
There was a court hearing, in which a continuance was granted for two weeks, as my BIL has pleaded Not Guilty. Which is, in my opinion, very bad legal advice from his lawyer. With the recorded testimony my niece has given, plus the records of the photo evidence of her injuries, I don't think whatever he will have to present will be seen as very believable. I get the vibe that his testimony will ultimately be that whatever happened, it was because her "bad behavior" provoked it.
(The bad behavior in question was getting involved with a "worldly boy" as her boyfriend")
She had be very reticent with me regarding the events of that night, but she provided me a detail that just floored me and made me sick to my stomach. That attack was so violent on her, that my sister had get a belt and start whipping on her husband's back to make him stop hurting his daughter, who he had on the floor. Jee-zus!
That little detail is going to absolutely require confirmation or denial from my sister, since she had a very active part in those events.
My niece believes that her mom is being coached or coerced into playing along with this charade, but that that the cracks in her resolve may be forming. Mother and daughter are now on speaking terms again, after weeks of silence, and I think (I hope) that my sister is seeing the wrongness of what was done to her. I hope.
Meanwhile, my niece tonight gets to do something that is part of normal behavior for a young woman:she is going to the Homecoming dance at her school, with her beau.
She sent me pictures, and they were heartbreaking. She is growing up to be such a beautiful young woman, and her young man looks very handsome and well dressed. It also emphasizes how old I am getting, and as I reflect back on all those activities that were denied to me because a bunch of childless old effers in Brooklyn deemed them as "bad". My sister and her husband, by their boneheaded beliefs and actions, have denied themselves a joyful event in their lives based on those idiotic rules.
Another plus. In talking with her, she said that someone from her hall had reached out to her, asking about her well-being, and (of course) inviting to take her to the meetings. I asked her if she was going to go, and she said "I don't really feel comfortable going right now. I'm kind of questioning everything after how my dad is acting. I'm not trying to be a rebel child...I just don't truly understand how someone could this plead not guilty and then do a Bible reading at the hall."
It was all I could do to restrain myself from telling her some things. All I could do was reply "I can see how that would be very disturbing and disquieting.."
More to follow, I am sure.