While the tragic incident of last night’s apparent Flight 447 crash unfolds on major media outlets, there’s a case that never received too much attention in the major media…the Sean Goldman case, which I briefly wrote about.

“Sean Goldman, 9 years old, whose custody is disputed by his biological father David Goldman and by the step father João Paulo Lins e Silva, has 48 hours to return to the US. The lawyer of Sean’s step father, Sérgio Tostes, will contest the ruling of judge Rafael Pereira Pinto, of the 16th Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro, which was divulged on Monday.

In agreement with the judge’s sentence, the child must be presented to the US Consulate in Rio by Wednesday. During the two days which lead up to it, the child will be monitored by agents of the Federal Police.

- I am desperate. My family is desperate – said Luca Bianchi, Sean’s uncle, on the Jornal Nacional of TV Globo. – We are searching for someone to help us out of this difficult and dishonest situation.

According to the decision, Sean will have a transition period in the US. During the first 15 days, he will spend the day with his father and the night with his Brazilian family. Beginning on the sixth day, Sean will spend the night with his father while receiving daily four-hour visits from the mother’s family.

The judge based his decision on the Hague Convention, which determines that, when a child is taken to another country without the authorization of the father and the mother, he/she must be returned immediately to the country in which he/she lived.

- It’s the type of violence never seen before from the Brazilian justice system – commented Tostes.

In agreement with the lawyer, the judge decided not to hear the wishes of the boy, in spite of the fact that he told psychologists seven times that he wanted to stay in Brazil.” – Source (in PT)

My Take

This will be short. I’m not saying this because I’m American, but the boy should have been returned to his father long ago, which would have been less confusing for him and for everyone involved. The mother could have asked for a divorce and from there, fought for custody and at the point where she passed away, the child would have to be given to his father…instead, she kidnapped the child and didn’t look back.