The Austrian custody case over the three-year-old twins of Manchester-born Beth Alexander has been suspended while the judge in charge is investigated, Ms Alexander’s lawyer has confirmed.

Lawyer Dr Helmut Krenn said the case has been suspended while the court investigates whether the judge, Susanne Goettlicher, acted improperly by allowing another judge, Konstanz Thau, to intervene in the case. Dr Krenn said: “I applied to transfer the case to another court because of the intervention. I don’t know when we will know the answer.”

Judge Thau is believed to be a member of the Austrian Jewish community and a friend of the twins’ father, Dr Michael Schlesinger.

Ms Alexander said: “I hope they will look into the case and expose the irregularities and that I will then get a fair and transparent trial.”