i think if you go back and look at the transcript of Howie’s tesstimony to Seidlin, it’s Seidlin that backed him in to the admission he got ‘bad legal advice’ - that’s why, a few days later, all of a sudden, there was to be a marriage, either feb 23, 27 or 28, depending on what day and who was telling it. IIRC, someone can be ordered to testify, but if that person refuses to talk, you’re stuck. All you can do, is jail them for contempt of court. the question then remains, could Stern afford to take that risk?
And then there's the beauty on Sept 26...Howard on LKL...saying he's the father, he really, really loves her, someday they'll get married...Howard hopes the feeling is mutual...and they get married two days later.
The bad advice?? He wasn't specific. Maybe the Inquest doesn't have the "spouse can't testify against the spouse."
I think the marriage was strictly for connecting the dots to the birth certificate which would come shortly...to show that Anna was agreeable.