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American Morning

Internet Twins To Return to America

Aired April 10, 2001 - 11:37   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we were having some problems with a cell phone just previously. We're going to get back to that new twist in the Internet twins case. We're bring Briony Warden of "The Sun" newspaper back on the phone with us.

Briony, can you hear me OK, now?

BRIONY WARDEN, BRITISH REPORTER: Yes, I can hear you.

PHILLIPS: Terrific, we've got a clear connection. You were the one that broke the story from the beginning. Kind of briefly, could you tell us how you did do that?

WARDEN: Well, Judith Kilshaw contacted me last summer, following a story I had written about intercountry adoption, and kept in contact with her and in January of this year, to my amazement, she rang me out of the blue and said that she had brought home two little girls from America, and would I like to come and I do story, and...

PHILLIPS: I'm sorry, go ahead. And how do you find out that something was going awry?

WARDEN: Well, as soon as we heard that there was another couple involved in America and that the whole thing had been set up by this extremely shady baby broker, we wanted to investigate further.

But it wasn't really -- I then flew out to America and did some investigation with my colleague in California and in St. Louis and it was there that we discovered the adoption was not all that it might be, and hat in fact, the Kilshaws and Mrs. Wecker had lied on the adoption documents and that it wasn't legal under U.S. law.

PHILLIPS: So, what is the latest development now in this story?

WARDEN: Well, yesterday, a High Court judge at the High Courts in London ruled that the twins belong in America. He has made them wards of court in England, which will protect them, but he has ruled to go back to the states and that the courts in St. Louis, Missouri, where they were born, will decide what happens to them afterwards.

PHILLIPS: And how have the Kilshaws reacted to this, the Welsh couple who wanted to adopt these children.

WARDEN: The Kilshaws reacted -- well, Mrs. Kilshaw reacted very, very violently to the judgment, and within minutes of the judge's decision, she burst out of court yesterday. She was shouting and screaming. She said there was no justice. She accused reporters of ruining her life, and she made (UNINTELLIGIBLE) even before the judge giving his judgment.

She later calmed down, and was escorted from the building by court staff, and let us solicit her comment after the case. He told us that they are considering an appeal. So, it might not be over yet.

PHILLIPS: So, Briony, when will the girls be in the United States and who do you think is going to end up getting the girls?

WARDEN: Well, when the girls return partly depends, of course, if the Kilshaws decide to appeal. That could slow up the process. But the judge has indicated that both the British courts and the courts in Missouri are very keen to get it done quickly. It could be within three or four weeks.

However, all of the indications are that once the twins get returned to America, it could be anything up to a year before they have a permanent home. And as to who I think is going to get the twins, I really couldn't call it. I suppose it depends on who wants them the most and who's going to offer them the best home.

PHILLIPS: Well, Briony Warden, it definitely teach us a lesson about the Internet and these Web sites. Thanks so much for joining us.

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