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| Madonna's Malawi appeal adjourned | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A Malawian court hearing pop star Madonna's appeal against a ruling denying her request to adopt a child has adjourned. | |
| Last month, the court ruled that the singer could not adopt three-year-old Chifundo "Mercy" James as she did not have permanent residence in Malawi. | Last month, the court ruled that the singer could not adopt three-year-old Chifundo "Mercy" James as she did not have permanent residence in Malawi. |
| Madonna was not at the closed-door hearing and a ruling may not be announced for several days. | Madonna was not at the closed-door hearing and a ruling may not be announced for several days. |
| The singer has already adopted a boy, David, from the southern African state. | The singer has already adopted a boy, David, from the southern African state. |
| The three judges of the Malawi supreme court did not set a date for the next session in the case. | |
| Chief Justice Lovemore Munro, who chairs the panel of judges, told the court the date when the verdict will be issued would be communicated later. | |
| Mercy lives in the same orphanage from which Madonna adopted David in 2006 and has been living there since her 18-year-old mother died shortly after giving birth. | Mercy lives in the same orphanage from which Madonna adopted David in 2006 and has been living there since her 18-year-old mother died shortly after giving birth. |
| Madonna's Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula said he was "hopeful" the appeal would succeed, and argued the lower court had relied on outdated law to block the girl's adoption. | Madonna's Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula said he was "hopeful" the appeal would succeed, and argued the lower court had relied on outdated law to block the girl's adoption. |
| 'Opportunist' | 'Opportunist' |
| Meanwhile, a dispute has erupted over a man claiming to be the little girl's father. | Meanwhile, a dispute has erupted over a man claiming to be the little girl's father. |
| James Kambewa, a 24-year-old security guard, told US TV he opposed the star's appeal and had sought help from the Malawi Law Society to stop the adoption. | James Kambewa, a 24-year-old security guard, told US TV he opposed the star's appeal and had sought help from the Malawi Law Society to stop the adoption. |
| Although Mr Kambewa acknowledged he had never met the child, he said he now wanted to claim custody. | Although Mr Kambewa acknowledged he had never met the child, he said he now wanted to claim custody. |
| However Mercy's uncle, Peter Baneti - who is representing the family in the adoption case - said that the family did not know Mr Kambewa. | However Mercy's uncle, Peter Baneti - who is representing the family in the adoption case - said that the family did not know Mr Kambewa. |
| Mr Baneti said he had agreed to the adoption on behalf of the family, and that Mr Kambewa was "just an opportunist". | Mr Baneti said he had agreed to the adoption on behalf of the family, and that Mr Kambewa was "just an opportunist". |