16 MAY 2002
A new twist has emerged in the drama over the paternity of Elizabeth Hurley’s six-week-old son. On Wednesday it was revealed that Steve Bing, the man Liz claims is the father, is about to become embroiled in a second fatherhood battle.

The American multimillionaire, who is currently awaiting the outcome of a DNA paternity test on Elizabeth’s son Damian, has been named as the father of four-year-old Kira Kerkorian, after a DNA test revealed there is a 99.993 percent chance he is her dad. Kira is currently at the centre of the world’s most expensive child support case.

The DNA sample came from a strand of dental floss discovered by detectives hired by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, who is currently being sued for £223,000-a-month child support by the child’s mother, his ex-wife Lisa Bonder, 36.

The 84-year-old owner of MGM Studio and numerous hotels and casinos hired detectives after hearing rumours that his ex-wife, a former professional tennis player, was having an affair with Bing at the time Kira was conceived. Kerkorian has always maintained he is sterile and that his paternity of Kira was impossible.

Super-wealthy Kerkorian – his fortune is estimated to be £3.07 billion – already pays £35,000 a month in maintenance, but his ex-wife is demanding a total of £2.6 million a year in cash, plus use of his private 737 plane five times a year. She claims her daughter has already become accustomed to a certain level of lifestyle.

Although Kira is not his daughter, Kerkorian has said that he was happy to continue payments to help support the little girl because he had become emotionally attached to her.

The DNA test on Liz Hurley’s baby is due to take place “within weeks” after Bing initiated legal action to resolve the dispute.