DNA tests have proved that Hollywood producer Steven Bing is the father of Liz Hurley’s baby son Damian, his spokeswoman has acknowledged. The test results, which bring to an end the bitter feud over the paternity of the child, were revealed on Wednesday at a hearing in the High Court’s family division.
Lawyers for both parties were in court. “Recently conducted tests have shown that Steve Bing is the biological father of Elizabeth Hurley’s son, Damian Charles Hurley,” said the producer’s spokeswoman. There was no immediate statement from Liz’s representatives.
Liz, who has always maintained that Bing was the father, could now receive millions of dollars in child support. The film producer is believed to be heir to a $400-million property fortune, and under Californian law, he could be liable to pay up to 30 per cent of his income to maintain the child.
However, Bing’s spokeswoman said he was pleased the issue is now resolved and that he was prepared to live up to a promise he made while the actress was still pregnant.
“If indeed I am the father, I will be an extremely involved and responsible parent,” he said at the time. Bing, who had dated Liz for about 18 months when she became pregnant, kicked off the furore last December when he issued a statement questioning the actress’s public assertion that he was the father. He told the press, he was not sure he was Damian’s father although Liz insisted the two had been in an exclusive relationship at the time Damian was conceived.
Liz gave birth to baby Damian in April this year, after which Bing launched legal proceedings to establish the child’s paternity, a move which the actress described as “astonishing”. Bing is the millionaire grandson of New York real estate magnate Leo Bing and has produced such films as the recent Sylvester Stallone vehicle Get Carter.
