VANCOUVER (CP) - A Frenchwoman detained by Canadian authorities for allegedly kidnapping her two children after a protracted custody battle gave birth to another child Tuesday, her partner said.
Nathalie Gettliffe, 35, gave birth to a baby boy named Martin while in custody at the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women, Francis Gruzelle, the newborn's father, said in a statement.
Getliffe has been detained since April.
Gruzelle has openly criticized Canadian authorities for his partner's ongoing detention and her case has won wide media attention in France.
Last week, he told France-3 television that Gettliffe was "physically exhausted" and blamed her poor health on prison conditions.
Gettliffe faces up to 10 years in jail in Canada if found guilty on two counts of child abduction. She said she took her children to France in 2001 to remove them from the influence of their Canadian father, Scott Grant, because he was increasingly active in the International Church of Christ.
While Canadian authorities recognize the church, French authorities consider it a cult.
French authorities returned the 11-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl to Vancouver in July, reuniting them with their father, who had been granted full custody by a Canadian court.
Grant said Tuesday he was unaware of whether his ex-wife had given birth.
But he said she had changed criminal lawyers in recent days. Her current lawyer, Richard Fowler, did not return phone calls Tuesday.
Her civil lawyer, Vincent Pigeon, said he was unaware whether she had given birth.
B.C. Corrections spokesman Bruce Bannerman cited privacy laws for being unable to confirm or deny the birth.
"I know it's out in the press but I'm not able to give you any information about any offender who's under our care," said Bannerman.
Alouette warden Brenda Tole also cited privacy laws but suggested a call to the nearest hospital to the prison, Ridge Meadows Hospital.
The hospital would not comment and would not confirm Gettliffe was there.
Gettliffe's criminal trial is set to begin in November.
4 comments:
Stop the media intoxication that is good for France but not in Canada where our justice and press ARE independent (I know, you wouldn't understand this concept). This woman kidnapped her children... I hope she rots in prison foR kidnapping... As to her lover, may he go to Hell... A Fwench who has no concept of justice and a kidnapper! I hope her canadian children will never again meet this woman who is a criminal...
Such violent aggression and such hatred towards a mother.
Have you been living on the moon for the past two decades while the liberals were in power in Canada? - because the justice system in Canada is ANYTHING BUT independent and just.
Ask the thousands of disenfranchised Fathers and the hundreds of mothers throughout Canada who have been threatened with prison and those who have been imprisoned because they couldn't make their child support payments! Did they also deserve to be thrown in jail, or have their cars and houses sequestered by the State? I think not.
Your aggressive statement indicates that you may believe that these Fathers, and some Mothers also have "no concept of justice".
Open your eyes....Lady Justice is weeping because of the disgusting state of affairs within the Canadian family law system...
We know what is going on and we won't allow the corrupt lawyers and judges to disenfranchise non-custodial parents and destroy families. We will speak out and up for the children and against corruption everywhere. Be a man/woman and declare yourself...or do you believe that you too can hide your aggression behind the mask of anonymity??
To "our justice and press ARE independent"...
If so, could you tell me why the Canadian press have not published any factual articles that I have sent on the case?
Further anybody who writes "I hope she rots in prison" on a person who has not yet been convicted of a crime can have NO CONCEPT OF JUSTICE.
Again ...you are just another example of a coward mouthing off.
Louise Roussel
Mrs. Getliffe has likely irreparably emotionally harmed her children to further her vendetta against Scott Grant. Look up Parental Alienation Syndrome. Unfortunately it's becoming more and more common(or maybe we are just now hearing about it)
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