Hollywood producer Steve Bing is taking legal action in Britain to find out “beyond any doubt” if he is the father of Elizabeth Hurley’s two-and-a-half-week-old son Damian – a public move the actress finds “distressing”, according to contrasting statements from both parties on Friday.
“Now that Ms. Hurley has had her baby, Mr. Bing is anxious to establish beyond any doubt who is the baby's father," said Steve’s statement, released soon after the millionaire playboy filed with the Family Division of the High Court. “If it is proved that Mr Bing is Damian’s father, he would wish generously to support him and to be involved in his upbringing.”
The statement went on to say the 35-year-old bachelor has “been unable to make contact with Ms. Hurley… to discuss these issues privately”. Therefore, he says, he has been “obliged” to have his solicitors issue proceedings “in the hope of bringing these matters to a quick and amicable resolution.”
New mum Liz, who named Steve as the father when she announced her pregnancy last November, wasted no time in shooting back a response. “Elizabeth has always made it clear that she is willing to participate in paternity tests and is extremely distressed that Stephen is attempting to resolve these personal issues publicly," said a spokesperson for the actress. The representative added that Liz found his statement “astonishing, seeing that he hasn’t made any attempt to contact her whatsoever since he was informed of Damian’s birth.”
Meanwhile, also on Friday, a man accused of stalking the actress was released after the West London Magistrates Court found there was a lack of evidence in his case. “We have withdrawn the case on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence to continue,” said a Crown Prosecution Service spokesman. “We were unable to obtain a statement from Miss Hurley herself, and without that the Crown cannot proceed.”
Petar Mihaljlovic was taken into custody outside Liz’s South Kensington home on April 4, just hours after she gave birth. Liz has been staying along with baby Damian at the luxury Old Windsor, Berkshire, estate of her friend Elton John since she was released from hospital two weeks ago.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
