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| Madonna takes custody battle with Guy Ritchie to English high court | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Madonna’s custody battle moved to the English high court on Thursday in the latest instalment of a struggle with her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie, over their son, Rocco. | Madonna’s custody battle moved to the English high court on Thursday in the latest instalment of a struggle with her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie, over their son, Rocco. |
| Ritchie, 47, attended a preliminary hearing on Thursday morning. Madonna had made the application a day after a related hearing in New York. | Ritchie, 47, attended a preliminary hearing on Thursday morning. Madonna had made the application a day after a related hearing in New York. |
| Lawyers have since said the singer would like to withdraw that application and bring proceedings in England to a close and the judge said he had to decide whether this should happen – or whether he should take decisions concerning Rocco’s welfare. | Lawyers have since said the singer would like to withdraw that application and bring proceedings in England to a close and the judge said he had to decide whether this should happen – or whether he should take decisions concerning Rocco’s welfare. |
| Judge Alistair MacDonald echoed the words of a New York judge also dealing with the dispute, urging Ritchie and Madonna to reach an “amicable settlement” to this “highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable” family dispute. | Judge Alistair MacDonald echoed the words of a New York judge also dealing with the dispute, urging Ritchie and Madonna to reach an “amicable settlement” to this “highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable” family dispute. |
| During a 90-minute hearing, MacDonald emphasised that it was their son who was suffering the most from this public and acrimonious custody battle. “Rocco will have to experience additional emotional upset,” he said. | During a 90-minute hearing, MacDonald emphasised that it was their son who was suffering the most from this public and acrimonious custody battle. “Rocco will have to experience additional emotional upset,” he said. |
| The transatlantic legal battle began after 15-year-old Rocco left Madonna’s world tour in December and went to live with his father in London. | The transatlantic legal battle began after 15-year-old Rocco left Madonna’s world tour in December and went to live with his father in London. |
| Madonna claimed that Rocco, who had lived with her in New York since she divorced Ritchie in 2008, had been illegally retained in Britain after visiting his father last year. The singer, who is currently on the Asian leg of her Rebel Heart tour, was not at either the London or New York hearings. | Madonna claimed that Rocco, who had lived with her in New York since she divorced Ritchie in 2008, had been illegally retained in Britain after visiting his father last year. The singer, who is currently on the Asian leg of her Rebel Heart tour, was not at either the London or New York hearings. |
| The British judge adjourned the case for a full hearing next week, where more evidence will be presented, and said he had to consider whether Madonna’s custody battle should continue in the UK. | The British judge adjourned the case for a full hearing next week, where more evidence will be presented, and said he had to consider whether Madonna’s custody battle should continue in the UK. |
| “It would be my fervent hope that discussions between the parties can reach an amicable resolution,” he said. “An amicable negotiated resolution is definitely the way forward and in Rocco’s best interests.” | “It would be my fervent hope that discussions between the parties can reach an amicable resolution,” he said. “An amicable negotiated resolution is definitely the way forward and in Rocco’s best interests.” |
| No details were given about why Rocco wants to live with his father, who is a film director, but press reports have claimed Madonna’s strict style of parenting is central to the dispute. | No details were given about why Rocco wants to live with his father, who is a film director, but press reports have claimed Madonna’s strict style of parenting is central to the dispute. |
| Since moving to live with his father, Rocco has been attending school in London but Ellen Sigal, a court-appointed attorney for the 15-year-old, said he was finding the family dispute “very difficult” and was keen for it to come to an end immediately. “We hope to put an end to this as soon as possible without exposing him to more litigation, press innuendo, any of that kind of thing.” | Since moving to live with his father, Rocco has been attending school in London but Ellen Sigal, a court-appointed attorney for the 15-year-old, said he was finding the family dispute “very difficult” and was keen for it to come to an end immediately. “We hope to put an end to this as soon as possible without exposing him to more litigation, press innuendo, any of that kind of thing.” |
| David Williams QC, representing Madonna, said: “It is her desire that this is resolved as quickly as possible.” | David Williams QC, representing Madonna, said: “It is her desire that this is resolved as quickly as possible.” |
| It followed a New York court hearing on Wednesday where the state supreme court justice, Deborah Kaplan, implored the pair to put their child’s interests first and reach an agreement over his future. | It followed a New York court hearing on Wednesday where the state supreme court justice, Deborah Kaplan, implored the pair to put their child’s interests first and reach an agreement over his future. |
| They were warned that if they could not agree the court would step in and make its own ruling. | They were warned that if they could not agree the court would step in and make its own ruling. |
| Kaplan made a ruling in December that Rocco should be returned to his mother’s custody but it was ignored by the teenager. Madonna’s lawyers suggested that Ritchie be arrested for contempt of court and compel him to come to New York but this was dismissed by the judge. | Kaplan made a ruling in December that Rocco should be returned to his mother’s custody but it was ignored by the teenager. Madonna’s lawyers suggested that Ritchie be arrested for contempt of court and compel him to come to New York but this was dismissed by the judge. |
| Kaplan said: “No one is disrupting his household other than the inability of the parents to reach a resolution … If they cannot resolve this matter then eventually the court will.” | Kaplan said: “No one is disrupting his household other than the inability of the parents to reach a resolution … If they cannot resolve this matter then eventually the court will.” |
| In the past couple of months Madonna has posted childhood pictures of Rocco on social media, showing her affection for him. | In the past couple of months Madonna has posted childhood pictures of Rocco on social media, showing her affection for him. |
| Rocco had joined Madonna for the initial stages of her Rebel Heart tour, working backstage, before joining his father in London. He also went on tour with her in 2012. | Rocco had joined Madonna for the initial stages of her Rebel Heart tour, working backstage, before joining his father in London. He also went on tour with her in 2012. |
| Kaplan set a 1 June date for Madonna and Ritchie to come back to court after a conference call with attorneys for all three parties. | Kaplan set a 1 June date for Madonna and Ritchie to come back to court after a conference call with attorneys for all three parties. |
| Kaplan said she wanted the parents, along with their lawyers, to resolve the matter in the best interests of their son. She said she might want to meet at some point with Rocco. | Kaplan said she wanted the parents, along with their lawyers, to resolve the matter in the best interests of their son. She said she might want to meet at some point with Rocco. |
| Ritchie – who directed the 1998 thriller Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – and Madonna divorced in New York in 2008. | Ritchie – who directed the 1998 thriller Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – and Madonna divorced in New York in 2008. |
| The pop singer, who has been married twice, has three other children: daughter Lourdes, 19, with her then partner Carlos Leon; and David and Mercy, both 10, who were adopted from Malawi. | The pop singer, who has been married twice, has three other children: daughter Lourdes, 19, with her then partner Carlos Leon; and David and Mercy, both 10, who were adopted from Malawi. |
| Ritchie remarried in 2015 to the British model Jacqui Ainsley. | Ritchie remarried in 2015 to the British model Jacqui Ainsley. |
| Neither of the parents appeared at the New York court but instead called in from abroad. On Sunday Madonna performed in Singapore and is due to take to the stage in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday. Ritchie called in from London. | Neither of the parents appeared at the New York court but instead called in from abroad. On Sunday Madonna performed in Singapore and is due to take to the stage in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday. Ritchie called in from London. |