Teen ‘Divorces’ Imprisoned Dad

CANTON, Mass. â€”  A teen won a landmark legal battle Monday by getting a “divorceâ€� from his father, who murdered the boy’s mother six years ago while the child slept in the next room.

Daniel Holland signed a settlement agreeing to give up his parental rights and waiving any right to be part of his son Patrick’s life. He had been scheduled to face a closed-door trial Monday that experts said could have been precedent-setting.

Patrick, 14, was one of the first children to independently initiate a “divorce� from a parent, despite the fact that he had a permanent home with his legal guardians.

Patrick said he was relieved the case was over but was skeptical of his father’s motives.

“I don’t think he did it for me; I just think he did it to make himself look good, to make himself look rehabilitated. But either way, I’m glad he did it,� he said. “It’s like a big weight’s been lifted off my shoulders, knowing that I don’t have to worry about him being in my life.�

Howard Davidson, director of the American Bar Assn.’s Center on Children and the Law, said the lack of a trial meant that no legal precedent had been set for other children in homes where one parent killed the other.

However, he said the case stood out because of Patrick’s strong advocacy for himself in the courts and the media, possibly emboldening other children to seek parental divorces. “It might inspire other kids who feel the courts aren’t listening to them to consider involvement in that process,� he said. “Patrick deserves a lot of credit. It wasn’t an easy thing for him to do.�

Holland, 39, is serving life in prison without parole for first-degree murder. Prosecutors said he shot Liz Holland eight times at her Quincy home, then beat her in the head with the rifle. He is appealing the conviction.

Patrick’s legal guardians, Ron and Rita Lazisky of Sandown, N.H., said they would file to adopt Patrick. Rita Lazisky was Liz Holland’s best friend.