Child Abuse Trial Continues In Muskogee County

Testimony continues in the trial of a Muskogee County mother charged with child abuse. The womanâ€™s husband took the witness stand Thursday morning. <br/><br/>Melanie Smith is charged with child abuse,

Wednesday, November 1st 2006, 11:49 am

By: News On 6

Testimony continues in the trial of a Muskogee County mother charged with child abuse. The womanâ€™s husband took the witness stand Thursday morning.

Melanie Smith is charged with child abuse, neglect and child endangerment. Her 4-year-old son was taken into protective custody after investigators say they found him beaten and in a malnourished state.

Thursday morning, her husband, Roy Smith, took the stand. During questioning by the prosecutor, Smith said, â€œshe'd get mad. She said he didn't ever listen to her, so he didn't get to eat." Roy Smith said he would take the boy to his parents' house to eat. He also described dozens of times where he said he saw her hit, kick, punch, and beat the boy with a belt.

He said the severity of the incidents would depend on her mood. He said when he tried to stop her; she would turn on him. When prosecutors asked why he didn't do anything, he said she told him it wasn't his kid and if he took the boy away, she'd call police saying he kidnapped the child.

Roy Smith also faces abuse charges in the case.