Victim's Brother on Cross: 'I suppose I didn't love him enough'

#CourtTV - MI v. #ShandaVanderArk Tortured Son Murder Trial Day 1 MORE HERE: www.courttv.com/news/mi-v-shanda-vander-ark-tortur…

Paul belongs in a hospital, not a prison. This is a severely broken human. Broken by child abuse. Profoundly sad.

So basically the mother’s defense is to blame her oldest son for this. She killed one and now she trying to force a life sentence on another to save herself. This woman….I mean this monster deserves to spend her life in prison with access only to hot sauce soaked bread and cold water. The evil that exists in some homes is just unimaginable.

The defense attempt to blame this boy is pathetic. Shame on this mother. Sacrificing another son to deflect the blame. Monster

What’s really haunting is that this young man can sit here and take responsibility for his actions but this monster of a woman (cause I refuse to refer to her as a mother) CAN NOT!!!!

"I STAND BY IT" profound. I believe him. His mother is an absolute monster. Prayers for all abused children.

I believe Paul was abused too. Tragic. The mother is flat out evil

I am both a special educator and a survivor of child abuse. My family had a similar dynamic to this one, though it did not reach these extremes. This young man needs an evaluation. While exceptional ed professionals cannot diagnose, I am seeing signs of exceptionalities. I would refer him for an Autism screening. He seems to have high cognitive functioning, but there seem to be some auditory processing inconsistencies. I am positive that he has extreme emotional and behavioral needs resulting from trauma. I would want this young man to receive every bit of treatment and therapy possible to support his further development and recovery. What an awful situation for all of those children!

I remember watching an interview with David Peltzer (A child called 'It'). His brother participated in his torture, but he said he didnt blame him for one second, as he was only trying to please his mother and was so relieved to not be the mothers victim. The brother never forgave himself. I think this is very similar. It's just so sad that Timothy can never speak out as i wonder if he would also forgive his brother. May the mother rot in hell.

This Defense lawyer managed to remove any doubt I had about the honesty of this kid. This young man has been abused and psychologically he is traumatized. He is clearly pained by the realities of his own actions and is remorseful and horrified at the outcome. His mother makes me wonder how someone so depraved and cruel and without empathy, would think that throwing up and having a panic attack in court, will buy her sympathy. No ma'am. We are ready to vomit also. This young man needs intense counseling and a safe place to heal. This woman ...I'll leave her to God.

What a mother...kills her son than trys to blame her other son....boy...what a mom...

People NEED to understand that the same spirit raised them both. Cruel, sadistic, merciless, relentless, beyond narcisstic, psychopathic. Yet, there are shards of mercy shining through. This man is a victim and needs support and long, intense, comprehensive rehabilitaion from c-ptsd from abuse.

I cannot fathom how ANY attorney could try and defend this woman!

I can’t imagine that the mom’s attorney actually thinks this cross examination is helping his client.

Does the defence attorney think this approach will help his client?! Literally made this young man seem more credible, and his client even guiltier if that’s possible.

My heart aches for this young man and his deceased brother. They were both so horribly abused.

Paul is a huge contrast to his mother. She lies, lies, lies. Paul is achingly honest.

This makes her look guilty as hell. If I were on the jury this cross-examination would have been a massive condemnation of their mother for me.

She physically destroyed one, and mentally destroyed the other. I hope you find help, healing, and a peaceful good life, Paul. Don't let her turn you into a bad guy

The number of people who just assume this guy has no responsibility and it’s just the mother….just from watching this…it’s mind blowing.