L’Aquila, 10 Sept. (LaPresse) – This afternoon, the defence team representing Nathan Trevallion and Catherine Birmingham, parents of the so-called ‘Forest Family’, lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal against the ruling of the L’Aquila Juvenile Court, which provides for a gradual reunification of their three children, who have now been away from home for 10 months. The 66-page document insists on a declaration of nullity regarding the court-appointed expert witness, highlights the court’s failure to assess the risks to the children’s health arising from their continued placement outside the family, the children have been housed in a foster home in Vasto (Chieti) since 10 November; and it laments the unjustifiable curtailment of the parents’ right to freedom of education and upbringing. “We have also criticised the bias that appears to have led the first judge to adopt a narrative of the facts that does not always correspond to reality, and we have highlighted the difficulties in implementing the order in practice.” This was stated by Simone Pillon, who represents the couple in the reunification case. In conclusion, the defence requested the immediate return of the children to their family and the approval of the ‘homeschooling’ educational plan – supported by detailed programmes and entrusted to the two teachers provided by the local council; for the Juvenile Court, one of the conditions for reunification is the enrolment of the children in state school. “From a procedural point of view, a request has been made for the complaint to be heard at a hearing attended by the parties,” concluded Pillon.
The ‘Forest Family’: Defence lodges appeal and requests home schooling for their children
L’Aquila, 10 Sept. (LaPresse) – This afternoon, the defence team representing Nathan Trevallion and Catherine Birmingham, parents of the so-called ‘Forest Family’, lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal against the ruling of the L’Aquila Juvenile Court, which provides for a gradual reunification of their three children, who have now been away from home for 10 months. The 66-page document insists on a declaration of nullity regarding the court-appointed expert witness, highlights the court’s failure to assess the risks to the children’s health arising from their continued placement outside the family, the children have been housed in a foster home in Vasto (Chieti) since 10 November; and it laments the unjustifiable curtailment of the parents’ right to freedom of education and upbringing. “We have also criticised the bias that appears to have led the first judge to adopt a narrative of the facts that does not always correspond to reality, and we have highlighted the difficulties in implementing the order in practice.” This was stated by Simone Pillon, who represents the couple in the reunification case. In conclusion, the defence requested the immediate return of the children to their family and the approval of the ‘homeschooling’ educational plan – supported by detailed programmes and entrusted to the two teachers provided by the local council; for the Juvenile Court, one of the conditions for reunification is the enrolment of the children in state school. “From a procedural point of view, a request has been made for the complaint to be heard at a hearing attended by the parties,” concluded Pillon.