A SCOTTISH MP has joined in an international custody battle involving the nine-year-old daughter of a murder victim.
The ex-husband of murdered Shona Stevens wants his child, Candice, to live with him in South Africa - despite the fact that he has not seen her since she was a baby.
The schoolgirl has lived with her grandmother, Mrs Mhairi Smith, since Mrs Stevens, 31, was killed near her Irvine home in November 1994.
Mrs Smith's MP, Mr Brian Donohoe, was furious to learn that South African Mark Stevens looks set to be granted Scottish legal aid to fight his side of the battle.
The Ayrshire MP, who has been supporting Mrs Smith's custody bid for several months, has vowed to take the case to Parliament.
``Mrs Smith came to see me some time ago,'' he said. ``She was obviously concerned that her daughter's husband would take the child abroad.
``Candice has not seen her father for eight years and for her to move abroad to live with someone who is effectively a stranger would have an enormous psychological effect on the child.''
He added: ``I find it quite astonishing that Mark Stevens could get legal aid in this country and I want answers on why he was allowed to apply for it in the first place.''
Mrs Stevens lived with her husband near Johannesburg prior to their divorce eight years ago. At the time of the murder, she and Candice were living with Mrs Smith in Irvine.
The kitchen window of Mrs Smith's home overlooks the spot where her daughter was murdered. Despite a massive police operation and months of publicity, Mrs Stevens's killer has never been found.
``Candice helped me through those terrible times,'' said Mrs Smith, who has temporary custody of her granddaughter. ``I don't know what I would do without her.''
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