CHICAGO (AP) — Dwyane Wade denied allegations in a courtroom Friday that he abused and neglected his children and ex-wife, owned guns and used drugs.
The Miami Heat superstar spent about 2½ hours testifying in the custody case for their two young sons. He responded for the first time to claims Siohvaughn Wade made in court papers. He says he was glad to “have an opportunity to have my voice heard.”
Wade testified that his ex-wife attacked him and threw a marble object at him during an argument in the bathroom at the home they shared in Florida. He said that he “sat her down aggressively” on an ottoman during that argument to subdue her, but that she kept swinging and hit herself, resulting in a bloody lip.
He also denied claims that he abandoned her and the children, hit them and endangered the boys’ lives. He insisted he still wants Siohvaughn to be involved with them and believes they could have joint custody down the road, although “a lot of things would have to take place.”
A big chunk of Wade’s offseason time has been spent in courtrooms.
He settled four civil cases stemming from failed business deals in a Miami court, and his divorce from high school sweetheart was finalized in June after nearly a three-year separation.
The custody battle is over their sons, ages 8 and 3.
Wade had hoped the case would be settled by the end of September, but there have been delays. Some elements have also dragged on longer than expected, like his ex-wife spending a week on the witness stand.
The appointed attorney for their sons recommended last month to the court that Dwyane Wade be awarded custody, and that their mother should agree to undergo “extensive therapy” as part of any scenario in which she would have visitation privileges.
Dwyane Wade was awarded “physical possession” of his sons in June by another judge, who found that an emergency order was merited because Wade’s time for visitation with his children “has been frustrated on an ongoing basis as a result of continual interference” by his ex-wife.
Over the summer, the 2006 NBA Finals MVP decided to stay in Miami and form a superstar triumvirate with LeBron James and Chris Bosh after being wooed by other teams, including his hometown Bulls.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
