I agree that he's behaving like a monster. Also that I didn't analyse the video as much as I should - like many it made me uncomfortable to watch a small section. Nevertheless, with what I heard the mother say, and what you believe was mediation (but could simply be her participating) I'm still thinking her role deserves careful analysis.

I was struck (sorry) by the involvement and comments of the older female (mother?). I heard her say things like "Turn over and take it like a 16 year old" and "Take it like a grown woman!". As the child nears sexual maturity I believe the insecure older female feels threatened and engages in a power struggle. It's possible that the mother played a significant role in the father being motivated to beat the daughter. Subconciously / instinctively the mother may want the daughter to move out. I believe physical confrontations between children and parents are common at this stage of development - particularly when smacking / beating has been part of the way the parents discipline the children. The level of violence peaks when the child feels strong enough to defend themselves and typically would indicate the end of beating being used. At this point the father gives up trying to physically dominate the child. Certainly we may expect a judge to have moved on from smacking his children to a more effective and appropriate form of discipline - but we have to go back not just 7 years but up to a further 16 to see where the pattern in that relationship began. Smacking was part of how I was raised. I'm a bit older than this girl. I wonder is smacking still practised? I grew up and have raised kids in more liberal places (in Australia) than Texas. Is smacking partly cultural?