Скачать или смотреть Father of Cuban boy who escaped to Florida with his mother, testifies in Florida court.

(6 Sep 2007) HEADLINE: Cuban dad fights for custody of daughter
CAPTION: A Florida court custody battle over a four-year-old girl from Cuba has a father fighting for his daughter after the girl's mother tried to commit suicide. (Sept. 6)


[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]

It was the first time that Rafael Izquierdo got to testify publicly about his efforts to bring

his nearly five year old daughter back to Cuba.

The girl's mother won a lottery to come the US legally, but lost custody of the girl after
trying to commit suicide. She wants the girl reunited with her father, but she dealt a
bombshell when she accused him and his lawyers of fabricating testimony -- letters and
photos purportedly designed to show that he was connected with the girl, even though he
was working in Cuba as a farmer.

On the stand, the father identified one of the disputed letters as his
(sot:in court)
Q: Did you write this letter
A: This is mine, It's my handwriting (via interpreter)

Earlier, he told the judge of his regular visits with the girl, saying a bond is growing

(sot Rafael Izquierdo)
"I'm doing well with my daughter, her sister is doing pretty well with her little sister, yanara, also want to say."

But he is opposed by Florida's child welfare agency and by Joe Cubas, a wealthy

sports agent who wants to adopt the girl -- arguing that since he is the current foster

parent, it's less disruptive

The trial could last for several more weeks. Judge Cohen first must decide whether the father is a fit parent -- and, if so, then must decide whether sending the girl to cuba is in her best interest

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...