Thursday, 2 August 2007

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Mel B: I want my child to know her two parents

Mel wants Eddie to be more involved with their baby daughter Angel

Melanie Brown, aka "Scary Spice," and her lawyer Gloria Allred stepped out for a press conference on Wednesday accusing Eddie Murphy of not doing "the right thing" in regard to Brown's baby.

Allred, who claims that Murphy "has not paid one penny of child support" for the former couple's daughter, said she plans to ask the court to award child support and "to decide what is reasonable."

Allred said she's filed a paternity suit against Murphy to legally establish that he is the father of their nearly 4-month-old daughter, Angel Iris Murphy Brown. "We've had communication with his attorney, and now we're moving forward," she said, adding that the papers are sealed because they concern a child.

"Murphy was promising to do the right thing, but to date he has not done the right thing," said Allred. "Mr. Murphy can have all the babies he chooses to have, but his responsibility needs to be to his own children. [Brown] is seeking sole physical and legal custody."

Still, Allred said Brown would be happy to arrange for Murphy to see his daughter regularly "like millions of parents do."

"He bought a big diamond ring for his new fianceé," added Allred, referring to Murphy's recent engagement to girlfriend Tracey Edmonds. "It is nice to be generous to others, but what about his own baby?"

Brown, wearing a white dress, told the gathered reporters, "I am here for one reason and one reason only – her name is Angel. Angel is my baby and Eddie's. She will always know that she was planned and wanted by both of us, but I want her to know that she has two parents who desire to be responsible for her during her life and who love her so much that they want to be a part of it."

A DNA test in June established that Murphy is the father, but "paternity has not been legally acknowledged," according to Allred.

Brown, 32, gave birth to the baby girl on April 3. She said from the beginning that Murphy, 46, was the father, but he initially questioned that claim. Murphy took the DNA test in June.

In a recent interview posted on Essence.com, Brown said the pregnancy was planned and that the couple had discussed getting married after the birth. "This wasn't some random, 'Oops I fell over and I'm pregnant.' I don't live my life like that," she said.

Murphy's rep had no comment.