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American Morning

Decision Expected Today in Internet Adoption Case

Aired April 09, 2001 - 09:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: A decision is expected from a London court today in the Internet twins custody case. The 9-month- old twins have been at the center of an international custody battle since two sets of parents claimed they adopted them from a Web site. The twins are now wards of a British court.

Amanda Kibel is on the phone outside the London courtroom to bring us up to date.

Amanda, I understand this decision is expected to come down any moment now.

AMANDA KIBEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Daryn, absolutely.

We are hearing, actually, right now, unconfirmed reports that the decision may have been made -- the judge may have read out his ruling in private. We hear that the Kilshaws, Judith and Alan, who are the parents who claim that the babies belong to them because they paid some $12,000 to a U.S.-based adoption agency to adopt these twins over the Internet -- we are hearing now that they have, in fact, stormed out of the court. There has been no sighting of them yet. So that remains unconfirmed, but we are expecting some kind of word on this decision anytime soon -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Where have the babies been kept in the last month, Amanda?

KIBEL: Well, up until now, Daryn, they have, in fact, been wards of the court. They have been staying with foster parents here in Britain.

Since January, in fact, they have been under the care of social services here, who removed them from the Kilshaws after the Kilshaws went public to the British media in very, very outlandish way. They went to the media and told them the story about their Internet adoption. Questions at that time were asked about legality of the adoption. And it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the children if they were taken into the custody of social services. And they have remained with the foster family since then.

KAGAN: And, Amanda, in the meantime, a U.S. judge has decided that the adoption that they did -- I think it was in the state of Arkansas -- wasn't valid because, I think there was a time factor involved there. And these girls are U.S. citizens with, at least a biological father and a biological mother who want them back. Is the British judge expected to take that into consideration?

KIBEL: Absolutely, the British judge will certainly be taking that into consideration. In fact, both the natural mother and the natural father have legal representations in these hearings. Though they are not, in fact, considered to be party to these hearings, they certainly have representation. And the judge will be taking into account their claims on these children.

A U.S. Court has also decided already that the father, Aaron Wecker, should, in fact, legally have custody of these children. So that ruling stands -- all of which the judge will be considering when he makes his final decision.

KAGAN: Amanda Kibel in London, thank you. We will check back with you as soon as you have the final word on what that British judge has decided.

Thank you, Amanda.

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