Father to seek Web twins custody

The Kilshaws say they will immigrate to the U.S.

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (CNN) -- The battle over the "Internet twins" has intensified with the biological father saying he would seek their custody.

Welsh couple Alan and Judith Kilshaw, who paid a U.S. baby broker for the twins only to have them taken away by UK social services, lost a court bid to keep the children on Monday.

A High Court judge ruled that a court in Missouri -- where the twins were born -- should decide who should have custody of nine-month-old girls Kimberley and Belinda.

The twins' biological father, Aaron Wecker, said he was pleased with the court's ruling that the girls should be returned to the U.S., he said on NBC's Today Show.

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"I was very happy. It was a much important step to be taken," he said.

Wecker said he originally agreed to allow his daughters to be adopted because he and his wife, Tranda Wecker, did not have a stable relationship.

The Weckers are about to divorce and he said there are several factors that now make him the most suitable to care for the children.

"The relationship that I'm in, where I live, my job," said Wecker. "I'm in a good position to take care of my daughters."

AUDIO Rosemary Carter, Family Law Association: Kilshaws hurt by media attention 730K/68 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

The nine-month-old twins will be placed in foster care in Missouri until the case is decided.

The courts will conduct a "suitability study" to determine if either biological parent should be given custody of the children.

Tranda Wecker said she was excited that she may "soon be reunited with her children."

The international tug-of-war over the children began last year when two sets of parents tried to adopt them from a Web site called the "Caring Heart Adoption."

Richard and Vickie Allen of California originally adopted the girls. But Tranda Wecker took the twins from the Allens and gave them to the Kilshaws.

A judge in Arkansas annulled the British adoption and recommended the twins be returned to the U.S..

After the British High Court ruled against the Welsh couple and said the girls must be returned to Missouri, an angry Judith Kilshaw stormed out of the court building, saying there was "no justice" in her country.

The Allens announced last month that they would no longer seek custody of the girls after prosecutors alleged Richard Allen was charged molested two girls the Allens babysat at their home last year.

A day after losing their court battle, the Kilshaws said they wanted to emigrate to the U.S. because of their treatment by the UK courts and media.

"I've lost everything really. I've lost my country," Judith Kilshaw told U.S. TV show "The Early Show" on CBS.

"I need to get out of this place ... I just wish somebody would give us an opening, a chance in America."

The Kilshaws complained they had been "let down" by the British courts and tabloid press, which they have accused of running a smear campaign against them.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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April 10, 2001
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Judge to rule on Internet twins
April 8, 2001
Court battle for Web twins resumes
March 19, 2001

UK Court Service
British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering
CBS
NBC

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