Sort custody yourselves, judge tells Madonna, Ritchie

Resort to lawyers ‘highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable’

LONDON: Madonna is using child abduction laws in a bid to force Guy Ritchie to return their 15-year-old son to her in New York.

The singer, 57, is using the Hague Convention to demand the film director send Rocco, who is living with him in London, back to her. But in a high court hearing yesterday, a judge told the couple to sort out the problem themselves and not use the courts.

Justice Alistair MacDonald said it was “highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable” they had to resort to lawyers.

His concerns echo the words of a New York judge who said on Wednesday it was “extremely troubling” the pair could not settle their differences privately.

At the hearing in London, the judge said it was his “fervent wish that further discussions between parties reach an amicable solution”.

Madonna claims Rocco has been illegally retained by his father. She has brought the case against Ritchie, 47, at the family division of the High Court under child abduction laws in the Hague Convention. She has also brought a case at the Family Court in New York.

The singer is in New Zealand on tour but took time to post a series of bizarre pictures and messages on social media, seemingly in reference to the case. In one, she writes “knowledge is power”. In another, she writes “Don’t f*** with the Queen.”

Justice MacDonald criticised the pair, saying there were “two legal issues, two judges, two sets of lawyers” fighting separate cases in New York and London. He added: “An amicable negotiated resolution is evidently the way forward and in Rocco’s best interests.”

Rocco has been living with his mother in New York since his parents divorced in 2008. Ritchie has since married model Jacqui Ainsley.

David Williams QC, for Madonna, said she wished to withdraw the case in Britain – as did her ex-husband and son.

Williams said: “If everyone really wants to minimise litigation – which is the express wish of the mother, father and Rocco – one way of doing that would be to withdraw these proceedings today.” – Daily Mail