Brad Pitt wins joint custody of kids with ex-wife Angelina Jolie

Hollywood star Brad Pitt has been granted joint custody of his children with his former wife, actress Angelina Jolie, following a long court battle. The 57-year-old actor and the 45-year-old actress are parents to Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, and 12-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. Maddox, 19, is not subject to the custody decision.

Jolie filed for divorce in 2016 and the pair has since been engaged in custody battle. A private judge named John Ouderkirk was hired to oversee the case and ruled in Pitt’s favour. The ruling was a “tentative decision” and Jolie is continuing her legal fight.

Jolie had not objected to joint custody but there were “other issues of concern”. The trial lasted for several months and there were a large number of witnesses, experts and therapists. The actress has criticised the judge’s decision not to allow their children to testify in custody hearings.

She had cited “irreconcilable differences” when she filed for divorce, and the pair became embroiled in a child custody battle in the months following it. Earlier, Pitt was investigated for possible child abuse after losing his temper in front of some of the children, but was later cleared of the allegations. — IANS