The saga of the Internet adoption twins took another twist today
after an American judge awarded custody to the baby girls' biological father.
A court in St Louis, Missouri, awarded custody of the twins to Aaron Wecker - although the order has no immediate effect, because the babies are currently in the care of a British county council.
Mr Wecker alleged in court papers that the girls' mother, Tranda Wecker, neglected them by trying to sell them over the Internet.
Mr Wecker said in papers filed on Monday that Tranda Wecker's actions had "led to my twin daughters being placed in foster homes."
St Louis Circuit Judge Jack Garvey issued the custody order, which will be in force until the next court hearing, set for February 14.
Judge Garvey also prohibited Tranda Wecker - who yesterday told US TV broadcasters that she wanted the babies back - from going within 100 feet of the twins.
The twins are currently with Flintshire County Council foster parents after a High Court judge sitting in Birmingham decided that they should remain in council care pending research into what is best for them.
Alan and Judith Kilshaw, from Buckley, north Wales, are contesting a decision by Flintshire Social Services to take the babies from them.
They adopted Belinda and Kimberley after paying a Californian Internet adoption agency.
Mr Justice Kirkwood, sitting at the High Court in Birmingham, said that the Kilshaws, had given the court solemn undertakings not to discuss the case or any of the arrangements for the twins with anyone unconnected with the hearing.
The twins were with a Californian couple when Tranda Wecker talked the pair into handing the babies back so she could say a final farewell.
Instead, the handed them to Mr and Mrs Kilshaw, who went through an adoption process in Arkansas. Reuters