Judge to rule on husband's attempt to stop abortion

A judge is expected to rule in court today whether a father can prevent his wife from aborting their unborn child. Lord Eassie cleared the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday to hear evidence in the first case of its kind in Scotland.

James Kelly was awarded an interdict, pending a full hearing, on Tuesday last week to stop his estranged wife, Lynne, from going ahead with an abortion last Friday. Mr Kelly wants custody of the unborn child and the couple's daughter, Hazel.

However, Ms Kelly, who is three months pregnant, threatened to have the operation in England, beyond the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts. The couple, from Inverkeithing in Fife, parted acrimoniously last month.

Lord Eassie has been asked to decide whether Mr Kelly can prevent his wife from having an abortion.