March 15, 2004

BRIS-NAPPED

The McKinney Courier-Gazette reports a Texan custody battle with an Australian twist:

The reunion of Tim Richard and his daughter is a step closer to reality.

The McKinney man and his 5-year-old daughter have been separated since the child's mother fled to Australia with the girl six months ago.

Since his ex-wife and child left the U.S., Richard has diligently worked through the legal systems of both countries - filing countless legal doucuments and filling out numerous government forms - in hopes of locating and eventually being reunited with his daughter.

Recently, Richard was notified by U.S. state department officials that authorities in Australia had located Michelle Desley Richard in Queensland.

A quick search of the Brisbane Courier-Mail doesn’t turn up any local coverage. More background here.

Posted by Tim Blair at March 15, 2004 02:56 AM
Comments


No doubt some on the Australian left are thinking that no child should be returned to the death-penalty, gun-crazy state of Texas and that a father's wishes are secondary to a young girl being raised in the sweet light of freedom.

They will, of course, be celebrating Elian Gonzales 5 years of Cuban repatriation shortly.

Posted by: Andrew at March 15, 2004 at 03:28 AM

Apparently, Mrs. Richard hid the young Michelle in her pouch and bounded away to Oz.

Posted by: JDB at March 15, 2004 at 04:09 AM

JDB,
Wouldn't that make her name Joey instead of Michelle?

Posted by: Michael Lonie at March 15, 2004 at 07:54 AM

I wonder if the item has received little press due to the fact that the 'victim' in this case was the father?

Posted by: nic at March 15, 2004 at 09:58 AM

I live in Allen on the southern border of McKinney. Funny thing, this case hasn't received much press here, though a similar case in which a father took his child to Mexico was all over the radio and print media for several days last summer. The fact that the article was found in the McKinney newpaper and not in the much larger Dallas Morning News is proof enough for me about the bias here.

Posted by: Kenny at March 15, 2004 at 03:33 PM