US father gets custody of son
Source: Agencies |
December 25, 2009, Friday
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Print Edition
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A BRAZILIAN family delivered a 9-year-old boy to his American father in Brazil yesterday, ending a five-year custody battle.
Sean Goldman was brought into the United States Consulate by several of his Brazilian relatives, making it into the compound's front door as scores of reporters and cameramen tried to get close. His father, David Goldman of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, was waiting inside.
Sean cried as his stepfather and family lawyer tried to get him through the scrum of journalists in front of the consulate. Guards had to violently push back photographers and TV cameramen.
The boy carried his luggage and wore a yellow shirt with the Brazilian flag and Olympic rings underneath. He didn't say anything as he was led from a car across the street to the consulate. His maternal grandmother, Silvana Bianchi, said in tears simply that "this is a very difficult moment."
Bianchi wanted to travel with Sean to the US to help in the transition, but family lawyer Sergio Tostes said her wish was denied by the US government. Tostes said he had asked the Brazilian government to intervene but authorities said the decision had to be respected.
US Embassy spokeswoman Orna Blum said the US government and consulate were not involved in the travel arrangements, which she said were handled by lawyers on both sides.
New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith, who was in Brazil with Goldman, said on NBC's "Today" show that once Sean was inside the consulate, he met with his father in a private conference room. Smith said they talked about basketball. A little more than an hour after the reunion, they were en route to an airport.
Goldman won a big legal victory late on Tuesday when Brazil's chief justice upheld a lower court's ruling that ordered Sean returned to him.
Legal challenges
The Brazilian family said on Wednesday it was dropping legal challenges to rulings giving custody to Goldman. But the New Jersey man said repeatedly that, until he was on a plane heading to the US with Sean at his side, he would not feel relief.
Sean has lived in Brazil since Goldman's ex-wife, Bruna Bianchi, brought him to her native country for what was supposed to be a two-week vacation in 2004.
Bruna Bianchi stayed, divorced Goldman and remarried, and Goldman began legal efforts to get back Sean.
Last year Bianchi died in childbirth, but her husband, Joao Paulo Lins e Silva, continued the legal fight, winning temporary custody.
Sean Goldman was brought into the United States Consulate by several of his Brazilian relatives, making it into the compound's front door as scores of reporters and cameramen tried to get close. His father, David Goldman of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, was waiting inside.
Sean cried as his stepfather and family lawyer tried to get him through the scrum of journalists in front of the consulate. Guards had to violently push back photographers and TV cameramen.
The boy carried his luggage and wore a yellow shirt with the Brazilian flag and Olympic rings underneath. He didn't say anything as he was led from a car across the street to the consulate. His maternal grandmother, Silvana Bianchi, said in tears simply that "this is a very difficult moment."
Bianchi wanted to travel with Sean to the US to help in the transition, but family lawyer Sergio Tostes said her wish was denied by the US government. Tostes said he had asked the Brazilian government to intervene but authorities said the decision had to be respected.
US Embassy spokeswoman Orna Blum said the US government and consulate were not involved in the travel arrangements, which she said were handled by lawyers on both sides.
New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith, who was in Brazil with Goldman, said on NBC's "Today" show that once Sean was inside the consulate, he met with his father in a private conference room. Smith said they talked about basketball. A little more than an hour after the reunion, they were en route to an airport.
Goldman won a big legal victory late on Tuesday when Brazil's chief justice upheld a lower court's ruling that ordered Sean returned to him.
Legal challenges
The Brazilian family said on Wednesday it was dropping legal challenges to rulings giving custody to Goldman. But the New Jersey man said repeatedly that, until he was on a plane heading to the US with Sean at his side, he would not feel relief.
Sean has lived in Brazil since Goldman's ex-wife, Bruna Bianchi, brought him to her native country for what was supposed to be a two-week vacation in 2004.
Bruna Bianchi stayed, divorced Goldman and remarried, and Goldman began legal efforts to get back Sean.
Last year Bianchi died in childbirth, but her husband, Joao Paulo Lins e Silva, continued the legal fight, winning temporary custody.
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