NEW YORK (AP) – Photographer Larry Birkhead, a former boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith, tells Us Weekly magazine that, no matter what a national TV audience was told Tuesday night, he’s the real father of the reality TV star’s newborn girl. And he’s seeking a DNA test to prove it.

Smith’s lawyer, Howard K. Stern, told CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Tuesday that he is the “proud father” of the girl, Dannie Ray Hope, born Sept. 7, and he plans to marry Smith “at some point.”

“Right now we have to somehow get through what we’re going through,” said Stern, referring to the Sept. 10 death of Smith’s son, Daniel Smith. The 20-year-old Smith died of unknown causes at his mother’s hospital bedside in the Bahamas.

“And I’ll tell you, our baby is the one ray of hope,” Stern said.

In an interview on the magazine’s Web site, Birkhead calls Stern’s remarks “laughable.”

“I am not surprised he would say this but I am laughing at it,” he says. “Larry King didn’t even believe Howard.”

Birkhead says science can settle the matter. “I have asked for a DNA test and I welcome it,” he says.

He’s confident about what the results would be, saying, “I know I am the father of the child. I look forward to having a relationship with my new daughter.”

Stern did not immediately respond to a call by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (AP) – Supermodel Naomi Campbell, accused of assaulting her maid with a cell phone, failed to show up in court Wednesday, puzzling the judge who asked for but never got a reason for her absence.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge James Gibbon responded by issuing a bench warrant for Campbell’s arrest, but then decided not to put it into effect after Campbell’s attorney explained that he and the prosecutor had an agreement.

Defense attorney David Breitbart told Gibbon the prosecutor knew Campbell was going to be absent and had agreed not to seek her arrest. Gibbon said he would stay the warrant – not put it into effect – until the next court date, Nov. 15.

Outside court, Breitbart said only that the British fashion model’s absence was not related to work. He noted that she had not appeared in the New York and Italian fashion shows but declined to say why.

Breitbart also said he has been considering a plea offer from the Manhattan district attorney’s office. He wouldn’t say what the offer was.

The 35-year-old supermodel was arrested on March 31 for allegedly throwing a cell phone at one of her employees in a dispute over a missing pair of jeans.

Campbell has called the charges “completely untrue.” But the housekeeper, Ana Scolavino, was treated for an injury to the back of her head after the incident.

Campbell has a history of anger problems with her employees.

LONDON (AP) – The spokeswoman did not reveal what sort of advice was given.

Schiffer lives in Coldham Hall, a 16th-century mansion, with her husband, film producer Matthew Vaughn.

Neighbors walking on a path that runs alongside the estate have complained about Schiffer’s dogs “running wild,” police said.

In December, one of her dogs bit a Jack Russell terrier, police said.

LONDON (AP) – Robert King, founder of The King’s Consort early music group, has been ordered to stand trial on 14 charges of indecent assault.

King, 46, was released on bail following an appearance Wednesday at Ealing Magistrates Court in London.

“He will be pleading not guilty. He denies all the allegations and they will be strenuously defended,” said his lawyer, Paul Watson.

A trial date was set for Oct. 23.

The alleged victims are male, including one who was under the age of 16. The alleged incidents occurred between 1986 and 1991.

The maximum sentence for indecent assault is 10 years in prison.

King founded The King’s Consort in 1980 while he was a student at Cambridge University. The group has made 95 recordings for the Hyperion label, including a series of the music of Henry Purcell.