Internet twins hearing expected to last five days

The legal battle over the ‘internet twins’ returned to
London’s high court on Monday. The hearing before top family
division judge, Mr Justice Kirkwood, which is expected to last up
to five days, began amid strict security and with the windows of
the court blacked out.

The judge is deciding the fate of the twins, Belinda and
Kimberley, bought for £8,200 from a US baby broker by Alan and
Judith Kilshaw.

The twins, who are now nearly nine-months-old, have been at the
centre of a major legal battle since they were seized by Flintshire
social services in January this year.

Both natural parents are represented in court.

A spokesperson for the Lord Chancellor’s department said
outside court : “The judge will be considering every possible
aspect of the case, and looking at the whole picture to decide the
twins’ future.”

The case has been brought to court by Flintshire social
services, who are seeking an order that the twins should be made
wards of court.

The Lord Chancellor’s spokesperson said that if they are
made wards of court the judge will then have to decide what should
be done with them. This could result in them being returned to the
US.

If he does not make them wards of court, however, he said it was
possible they could be handed back to the Kilshaws.