Reply #1: Stay Out Of It, It Is None Of Your Business

[Beetwasher]

You may think you know the family, but you don't. You don't have any idea what's really going on. Maybe your point of veiw is right, maybe it's wrong, but you are far from any position as a friend of hers to be objective on the matter.

Why are you peaking in their windows?:

"You see, I live right behind them and heard and saw much of this going on."

Really. Mind your own business. Let the experts do their work. You may think she's being railroaded, but you are not objective. She's your friend, so you are going to defend her.

Slapping her daughter in the face is abusive behavior. Period. And if she did it this once, it almost certainly was not the first time.