People seem to use CM's mental health and troubled background to justify her being the one who is being controlled/abused by MG, but what about him? He had a shit childhood, clearly had MH issues, committed a heinous crime and landed in jail which continued a shit childhood into a shit adulthood in prison (which, of course, was deserved due to said crime). He has had a terrible life, some of that his own making and as such could be classed as pretty mentally unstable and vulnerable......and therefore susceptible to control and abuse by others. Especially if his formative years were spent being in a controlled environment (prison) with everyone else (prison guards) doing everything for you (rehabilitation back into society is also truly shocking coming out of the prison system).
The same as is being argued for her could be true for him. Shit childhood, shit adolescence of her own making by joining a cult who may or may not have controlled her, mental health issues as a result etc etc.
I am starting to think that these two entirely damaged individuals came together and bonded over their shit circumstances. Probably became trauma bonded to one another, possibly both abusive and controlling at times, not necessarily one being dominant over the other. Sometimes it isn't as black and white as one being the abuser and the other abused, it is just a straight up toxic relationship where they are both as bad as each other (although that doesn't make one person or the other more morally right either).
Regardless she is in a stronger position to come across as a mentally unwell female with a troubled childhood given there are more men than women in DV and controlling relationships. Agree that the money and status thing is a moot point too, having been the sole earner and the victim in an abusive relationship. If anything he would use my earning as a stick to beat me with, take money by using my card and tell everyone I was financially abusing him by not giving him money (which I did so he would have to get a job).
Spot on ITDH, they are co-defendants and it’s normal for them to be in the doc together even if it’s was 10 of them. There is usually a court/prison officer between them. If they get too chatty the judge will close them down, but in the same way he/she would if someone in the gallery was chatting. They should have been advised to be cautious around the jury because they’ll make all sorts of assumptions based on their behaviour, they need to be showing the best of themselves or it’s game over, juries will see that behaviour and then they don’t need any facts, their minds are made up. Thats why smart 
