Today in the Michael King murder trial a good-Samaritan witness, Jane Kowalski, testified about hearing screams coming from the backseat of the car next to her on the road. This is at least the second witness who testified to hearing kidnap-victim Denise Lee’s screams for help coming from King’s car.

Think about this: King was entirely unconcerned that he would be caught in the act. He did not bind his victim. He did not gag his victim. He did not render her unconscious as he drove through a populous area during rush hour. His only response to his victim’s screams and pounding on his car’s window was to remove his right hand from the steering wheel and repeatedly push her down into the foot well of the backseat.

Assuming King wanted to get away with his crime, this behavior is unfathomable, isn’t it? His defense is not claiming insanity.

In my opinion, the reason King felt he could do this so blatantly is that society and especially law enforcement and the courts do not consider domestic violence to be a serious crime. When a couple is involved in domestic violence, the woman’s cries for help are ignored. King knew that, just as every abusive man knows it.

Few people report signs of domestic violence to the police. When neighbors hear screams, they shut their ears. When someone calls the police, the police approach the scene warily or not at all. As soon as the police knock on the door, the screams stop. The police counsel the couple to kiss and make up.

I was once in a hotel room and heard a violent fight next door. I could hear screams and a fist hitting flesh. Furniture banged up against the wall. It was loud enough to penetrate the soundproofed walls and loud enough for me to tell a man was hitting a woman.

I can’t remember whether I called the front desk, but I do remember calling the cops. Within a few minutes I heard the knocks on the door of the next room. The sounds of struggle stopped. I heard voices in the hall and then the cops went away.