The appeal hearing into Madonna's latest bid to adopt a Malawian child has been adjourned, and it's not entirely clear until when exactly.
As previously reported, the singer was unsuccessful in her bid to adopt a second child from the country, three-year-old Chifundo 'Mercy' James, because the courts ruled that the lack of permanent residence in the country barred her from adopting.
It's still not entirely clear why that rule applied this time, but not back in 2006 when Madge adopted Malawian boy David Bandha. Anyway, Madonna is appealing, and her appeal case was heard last week. The singer herself was not present. Three supreme court judges reportedly heard the appeal and then adjourned to consider the case, without confirming when they expect to reach a conclusion.
Madonna's Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula told reporters he was "hopeful" the appeal would succeed, saying the lower court had applied an "outdated" law to block the second adoption.
The case has become a little more complicated in the last few days because a man claiming to be Mercy's father says that, although he's never met the girl, he now wants custody. The potential adoptee's uncle, who is representing her family in all this, and who supports Madonna's adoption bid, says he's never heard of the James Kambewa, the man claiming to be Mercy's father, and has accused him of being "an opportunist".