(AP) NASSAU, Bahamas Anna Nicole Smith's mother and former boyfriend were in last-minute negotiations Thursday to avert a showdown over custody for the late reality TV star's infant daughter, lawyers said.
Attorneys for ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead, the baby's father, and Virgie Arthur were expected to meet in private in the Bahamas to discuss a visitation arrangement, said Debra Rose, an attorney for Smith's mother.
Rose said Arthur, who was estranged from her celebrity daughter, collapsed when Anna Nicole died in February and will continue her legal bid for joint custody of the infant, Dannielynn, if the talks fail.
A Bahamian court was scheduled to hold a closed hearing Friday on the matter.
"We intend to proceed on that application unless something else comes along that causes us not to have to take that course of action," she said.
On Tuesday, a DNA expert revealed that Birkhead, a California photographer, was the father of Dannielynn, who could inherit a fortune. Following that revelation, Smith's companion, Howard K. Stern, said he would not fight to keep custody of the girl.
Stern, who has been caring for Dannielynn in the oceanfront home that he and Smith shared before her death, has said he believes Birkhead should get full custody of the child.
For his part, Birkhead said this week he doesn't intend to share custody of their baby daughter, but hopes he can avoid a major court battle over the issue.
Arthur said she would like access to her granddaughter and believes an agreement with Birkhead is possible. "I hope so," she said. "Larry's a good guy."
Arthur and her attorney spoke outside a hearing on a legal challenge filed by Stern that halted the inquest into the Sept. 10 death of Smith's 20-year-old son, Daniel, in the Bahamas from a drug overdose.
Stern has challenged a decision not to allow a questionnaire to gauge any bias among potential jurors. It was unclear when the court would rule on the issue.
If anything, the press (ET) has put out more info that appears to HELP Howard than anything else we've seen....in particular the videos that say Anna was estranged from both Virgie and Danny, the video of KE explaining her tender, loving care of her patient, the videos of Howard feeding the baby...
It's just that people aren't stupid today and if you lied about the baby, THE METHADONE, and your lack of knowledge about meds, we think you just might lie about everything else.
And then there's the FACT that there's only TWO people who had access to both Anna and Daniel within the hours before they died...Howard and KE.
Daniel Smith Inquest Moved to End of May
April 12, 2007
The Daniel Smith inquest proceedings are expected to resume on May 22.
After a brief meeting Thursday, the inquest into the death of ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s son DANIEL will reconvene on May 22 in the Bahamas.
Currently, HOWARD K. STERN is appealing the jury selection in the inquest, asking that his attorneys be allowed to submit a special questionnaire for the screening process. They have argued that it would be impossible to secure an impartial jury due to the publicity surrounding Anna Nicole and Daniel’s deaths — rendering the entire proceeding unconstitutional.
Forty witnesses are on the list for the inquest, which is expected to include testimony from a hospital nurse who may claim that she noticed two white tablets on the bed where Daniel died — one that turned out to be methadone.
ET has obtained the full witness list for the inquest, and Anna Nicole (as Vickie Lynn Marshall) is listed; a statement will be presented in the late model’s absence. The list also confirms that Anna’s partner, Howard, has been summoned, as well as the biological father of Anna’s baby DANNIELYNN, LARRY BIRKHEAD.
“I’m just here to do what’s right, to help Daniel,” he told ET. “I’m here to give the truth.”
Also included on the complete witness list are Anna’s former friends, G. BEN THOMPSON and FORD SHELLEY, and her reported former physician, DR. SANDEEP KAPOOR. The police photographer has been called to testify, as were various employees from Doctors Hospital, which is where Daniel died. Each witness is entitled to bring their own attorney.
The 20-year-old Daniel died from a lethal combination of Lexapro, Zoloft and methadone while visiting his mom and newborn sister in the Bahamas last September.
Watch ET for the very latest on the Daniel Smith inquest.
http://www.etonline.com/celebrities/news/47773/index.html