Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Raymond suffered fresh heartache today – after losing the custody battle over their two sons.
The 33-year-old singer was awarded primary care of four-year-old Usher Raymond V and Naviyd, three, after a ruling by Georgia judge, TMZ reports.
It comes just weeks after Tameka’s 11-year-old son Kile – from a previous relationship – tragically died following a freak jet ski accident last month.
The former couple were both giving evidence last week, with Tameka trying to prevent the singer from taking sole custody of their two young sons, while closing arguments were also delivered.
It was a messy battle which saw Tameka accuse Usher of being an absent father – while he branded her a bad mother who was unable to bond with their children.
Their two sons will now spend most of their time with their father – while it is unclear how much access Tameka will get to the young boys.
According to Fox Atlanta, an attorney representing the vocalist said at an earlier hearing: ‘We believe the evidence is that Ms Raymond is incapable of being a proper parent to these children.
The ruling comes after Tameka’s son Kile, 11, from a previous relationship, tragically died last month
That she does not have the emotional stability or capacity to bond with them, and therefore she is handicapped.’
However the 41-year-old stylist’s attorney Lisa West told the court the pop star is on the road all the time, and cannot rely on the ‘village’ of his mother, grandmother and aunt, who all attended, to keep the children.
She added that he does not have a good relationship with his mother, and said Tameka is determined to fight for custody.
The two divorced in 2009 and both sides admitted the current co-parenting arrangement is not working.
They have been attending Fulton County for various hearings over the past several months, with both giving testimony.
Usher, whose surname is Raymond, told the court on Monday last week that he tries to focus on his children when they are with him, but sometimes he has to juggle other commitments.
According to the The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionhe said: ‘I try to do all of my work when I don’t have the children, but there may be times when there’s an obligation of something that comes up.’
Leave a reply