Anna Nicole: Stern backs down

2007-04-02 19:19

Nassau - The lawyer-turned-partner of Anna Nicole Smith dropped his bid on Monday to throw out DNA test results for the former Playboy Playmate's infant daughter when it seemed a Bahamas court was going to reject his appeal.

An attorney for Howard K Stern withdrew the challenge in the court of appeal in the face of sceptical questioning by a three-judge panel.

All three judges said Stern had filed his challenge too late and should have raised his objections before the supreme court ordered DNA testing in the paternity challenge filed by Larry Birkhead, a former Anna Nicole boyfriend who claims to be the father of the infant, Dannielynn.

Justice Emmanuel E Osadebay noted that Stern, himself, had agreed to DNA testing and waited until a week after the sample was taken to file the challenge.

Fighting for millions

Stern is listed on the birth certificate as the father of Dannielynn, who was born in the Bahamas in September.

The child's DNA was tested on March 21, but the results have not been revealed.

On Tuesday, the supreme court is scheduled to hold a hearing in the paternity case, but the lawyers and officials are prohibited by Bahamian legal rules from discussing the case, even to reveal the nature of the hearing.

The baby, whose full name is Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern, could inherit millions from the estate of Anna Nicole's late husband, J Howard Marshall II.

Anna Nicole had been fighting the Texas oil tycoon's family over his estimated $500m fortune since his death in 1995.

- AP