Judge criticises parents' foul language over child dispute

IN presiding over the refusal by a father that the child’s mother take her along to a trip to Europe, a judge voiced his displeasure at the fact that the parents used foul language in their court papers in referring to each other.

- ZELDA VENTER

A Western Cape High Court judge noted the history of acrimony between the parties and said this much so is evinced by the foul language used and the profanity that decorates the acrimony between the parents.

“These profanities are most evident from the First Respondent's (husband) papers. For example, he accuses the applicant (mother) of ‘being a con artist, blatantly lying under oath and behaviour representative of borderline and narcissistic traits,” the judge said.

He added that he will not recite each and every one of them as if to give credence to them. He noted that the mother too has thrown similar profanities at the father and even accused him of criminal conduct.