A man is requesting that an Iowa court grant his motion for trial by combat in order to settle a custody battle dispute with his now ex-wife. 40-year-old, David Ostrom is claiming his ex-wife, Bridgette Ostrom, has ‘legally destroyed him’ in court documents obtained by the Des Moines Register. 

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According to Ostrom himself, his requested motion stems from his frustrations with his ex-wife’s attorney, Matthew J. Hudson. Ostrom has requested the Iowa District Court located in Shelby County provide him with a twelve-week notice so that both parties can obtain their katanas and traditional Japanese weaponry. Ostrom has also requested that his wife would be able to choose Hudson as a stand-in combatant or ‘champion.’ 

David Ostrom is quoted in court documents stating, “To this day, trial by combat has never been explicitly banned or restricted as a right in these United States. The frustrated father also added that this method handling legal disputes was utilized ‘as recently as 1818 in British Court.’

Bridgette Ostrom’s attorney in Hudson was forced to argue that the result said samurai sword combat could potentially lead to death which is a far more worse outcome than any property tax or custody decision left in the hands the court. Court documents have Hudson on record stating, “Although Ostrom] and potential combatants do have souls to be rended, they respectfully request that the court not order this done.”

Hudson added, “It should be noted that just because the U.S. and Iowa constitutions do not specifically prohibit battling another person with a deadly katana sword, it does prohibit a court sitting in equity from ordering same.”

Hudson also took additional jabs at Ostrom the court suspend Ostrom’s visitation rights so that he may be psychologically evaluated. 

The Des Moines Register reached out to David telephone where he explained that he had come up with the idea a swordfight after hearing a New York Supreme Court Justice acknowledge that duels had not been abolished during the case that took place in 2016. Ostrom closed out the conversation with the publication stating:

“If Mr. Hudson is willing to do it, I will meet him. I don’t think he has the guts to do it.” 

Mr. Ostrom’s request is currently pending a final decision by the Shelby County court. With how  has been as late there’s no telling what the outcome this motion may be.