Guy Ritchie and Madonna’s custody battle returns to court
Hearings in an acrimonous dispute between Madonna and Guy Ritchie over the future of their 15-year-old son Rocco have resumed in London.
Mr Ritchie, the film director, is involved in legal battles with his pop star ex-wife on both sides of the Atlantic.
Latest stages of the dispute are underway in a private hearing at the Family Division of the High Court.
Rocco attended Friday's hearing but neither Mr Ritchie nor his wife Jacqui were present.
Madonna missed a hearing earlier this week because she is on tour, a judge heard.
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A lawyer told Mr Justice MacDonald on Thursday that the singer would "very much wish" to be present but was performing in Australia.
"The mother remains on tour, I think in Australia," David Williams QC, for Madonna, told the judge.
"She would very much wish to be here."
WESTWOOD, CA — DECEMBER 06: Model Jacqui Ainsley (L) and director Guy Ritchie arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ «Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows» held at the Regency Village Theatre on December 6, 2011 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Last week it emerged that Madonna, who has been one of the world’s most recognisable recording artists since the 1980s, made an application last year under the Hague Convention — which deals with the abduction of children — for the return of Rocco.
However, she has since sought to discontinue the claim.
Reports said Madonna — who is in Australia as part of her Rebel Heart Tour — appeared at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne dressed as a clown.
She was performing at a one-off gig called Tears of a Clown — riding a child's tricycle onto the stage and singing Stephen Sondheim's Send in the Clowns.
In court, Mr Justice MacDonald said the fact that the hearing was taking place could be reported — and the parties could be named — but that no further detail could be published.
Similar hearings have taken place in New York following the launch of family court proceedings in America.
A judge in New York has heard that Rocco is living with his father in England.
She has also urged Madonna and Mr Ritchie to reach agreement.
Lawyers told Mr Justice MacDonald at last week's hearing that Madonna wanted the teenager to return to live with her in the US.
Madonna and Steven Klein secretprojectrevolution…NEW YORK, NY — SEPTEMBER 24: (Exclusive Coverage) Madonna and Rocco Ritchie perform during Madonna and Steven Klein secretprojectrevolution at the Gagosian Gallery on September 24, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
The British High Court judge said last week that he had to decide whether the proceedings launched by Madonna in England should end — or whether he should make decisions on Rocco's welfare.
Madonna is due to play two dates in Melbourne this weekend before moving on to Brisbane and Sydney.
The hearing continues.
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