Dad gets custody of 5-year-old son, even though no arrests in murder of boy's mother (Pretoria, South Africa)

What the f***?

Mom was separated from dad NICO HENNING and they had (presumably) reached an agreement that gave Mom "interim custody" of their 5-year-old son pending the finalization of their divorce. This after being "embroiled" in a "legal battle."

Then Mom was mysteriously murdered in a drive-by shooting. Timing is sure suspicious, eh? We know that custody battles are often launched by violent fathers in an effort to continue their abuse/control of their ex-partners. That should certainly raise suspicions at the very least that this wasn't a random shooting. Even if the evidence hasn't been secured yet.

But meanwhile, the motherless little boy goes into foster care. The maternal grandparents are apparently concerned enough to look into custody, but ultimately back off with promises of access and visitation. So Dad gets custody.

EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO ARRESTS IN THIS CASE.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/son-of-shot-mom-now-lives-with-dad-1.1176928

Son of shot mom now lives with dad
November 12 2011 at 11:28am
By Zelda Venter

Five-year-old Benjamin Henning whose mother was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Faerie Glen on Tuesday is now staying with his father after he was left with foster parents.

Benjamin’s mother, Chanelle Henning, 26, was shot shortly after she had dropped him at the Morning Star Montessori crèche in Faerie Glen.

Family spokesman Jacques Fourie confirmed on Friday that Chanelle’s parents, Shanon and Ivan Saincic, and her husband, Nico, from whom she was separated, had reached an agreement regarding Benjamin’s custody. “The grandparents will be able to visit him while he is living with his father,” Fourie told the Pretoria News.

Chanelle had interim custody of the child at the time of her death, pending the finalisation of her divorce. The grandparents launched an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday for custody of Benjamin, who was on Tuesday placed in the care of foster parents.

It is understood that the parties met with a judge in chambers, but agreed to try and find an amicable solution. Fourie said Nico Henning and his in-laws met and it was agreed that the boy would stay with his father, while his grandparents would have access to him.

“The family decided that Benjamin could not stay a day longer with strangers and that he had to go to his father,” said Fourie.

According to Fourie, the grandparents withdrew their custody application.

But it is believed that the matter will have to go back to court for confirmation of the custody agreement.

A source, who did not wish to be named, said a judge would have to approve the agreement. The court ultimately has to decide what is in the best interests of the child.

It could also be that a family advocate may be appointed to investigate what is in the best interests of the child and make recommendations in this regard to the court. According to the source, the child was not left in foster care of strangers, but with people who had previously taken care of him while his parents were embroiled in a legal battle over his custody.

He was apparently quite happy to see them this week.

Meanwhile, Fourie said the family was battling to come to terms with what happened to Chanelle. She was shot in broad daylight by two men on a motorbike, moments after she dropped off her child.

Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Duane Lightfoot earlier confirmed that Chanelle’s estranged husband had been interviewed by detectives.

No arrests have been made yet.

“All I can say at this stage is that the police are hard at work compiling an identikit and we are hoping to release it by the latest (today).”

A funeral service for Henning will be held at the Doxa Deo Church, Hartbeespoortdam, at 3 pm on Monday. - Pretoria News