MIAMI (AP) — A young Cuban girl at the heart of an international custody battle was beaten and abused by her mother, who also threatened to kill herself with a knife, the girl's older half brother told a judge Tuesday.
The boy, 13, told the judge that their mother, Elena Perez, also abused him.
The boy was the first witness in a trial to determine whether the girl's father, Rafael Izquierdo, is fit to regain custody of her and return to Cuba, or whether she should stay in the United States with her wealthy foster parents.