Christmas Day 2010: Sean Goldman Home, Thousands More To Go

Christmas Day is always a bitter-sweet affair for me: I see my children as I have done this morning, but thoughts of Emily are inescapable.

Emily and I have had one Christmas together - her first Christmas before she was taken 14 short days later.



Happy Christmas Emily Rose - Daddy loves you darling ;)

Yesterday, I received a call from Robert Skelton in Florida with the news that Sean Goldman had been handed over at the US Consulate and by now is back in the US with his dad, David Goldman.

That is news beyond many parents fantasies. Good luck to both of them with their new life together and I wish them happiness as they catch up with each other for the stolen years taken from them.

A sweet development but for the bitterness.



Why be bitter? Sean is home, David Goldman has succeeded where so many have failed?

I feel bitterness because of the following, many of whom I have come to know personally and consider as friends:

Carlos Bermudez and his son Sage (in Mexico)



Ariel Ayubo and his son, Lorenzo (Brazil)



Tim Weinstein and his children (in Brazil)



Rob Skelton and his daughter, Marissa Joy Kvistad (somewhere in Europe probably)



Martin Boyle and his daughter, Rebecca (in Brazil)



Mayra Elsafi and her children Tariq & Sarah (thought to be in Sudan)



Ken Thompson and his son, Andrew (probably in Germany)



Michael Shannon and his children (in Egypt)



Devan Davenport and Nadia (in Brazil)



Larry Synclair and his son, Larry Jr. (in Russia)



Joseph Cannon and his daughter, Shelby (in the UK)

Sean Goldman To Remain In Brazil

Brazil's Supreme Court has stayed the Appeal Ruling won by David Goldman, 3-0 and Sean Goldman will now have to remain in Brazil until his testimony can be heard.

David Goldman flew to Brazil yesterday with Congressman Smith in anticipation of collecting Sean and returning with him to their home in New Jersey. The step-father and the boy's Brazilian family have appealed that court ruling and it is now likely that Sean will have to remain in Brazil at least until February when his testimony will be heard.

Sean and David Goldman have not seen each other since June last year; on the other hand, Emily and I have not seen each other since March and David is getting court time far faster in Brazil than I am in Florida - the Appeal for Emily is still waiting to be set for oral argument and the calendar has been booked through to March 2010 (without us on it).

My heart goes out to both of them nevertheless.


Good luck guys.

David Goldman Wins Appeal Before Brazilian Court 3-0 - Sean to be Returned by Friday

David Goldman has won a federal appeal before a Brazilian court comprising three judges - the verdict was unanimous.

The order involves Sean being home in New Jersey by Friday, but...

His step-father and family have filed yet another appeal.

This is exactly the kind of delaying tactics which need to be stopped - not just in Brazil, but anywhere.

If the ruling is there is no jurisdiction - the domestic legal process should then be stopped immediately - no jurisdiction means no more!

The MSNBC piece on this can be found by following the David Goldman link.