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| Judge rules in Smith body dispute | Judge rules in Smith body dispute |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The guardian of Anna Nicole Smith's infant daughter has been awarded custody of the ex-model's body after six days of court hearings in Florida. | The guardian of Anna Nicole Smith's infant daughter has been awarded custody of the ex-model's body after six days of court hearings in Florida. |
| Judge Larry Seidlin said he wanted her to be buried in the Bahamas next to her son, but did not order that to happen. | Judge Larry Seidlin said he wanted her to be buried in the Bahamas next to her son, but did not order that to happen. |
| The decision about what happens to her body will now be made by attorney Richard Milstein. | |
| Smith, a former Playboy Playmate who married an elderly billionaire in 1994, died on 8 February of unknown causes. | Smith, a former Playboy Playmate who married an elderly billionaire in 1994, died on 8 February of unknown causes. |
| Her death resulted in a struggle between her estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, and her partner, lawyer Howard K Stern, over where she would be buried. | Her death resulted in a struggle between her estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, and her partner, lawyer Howard K Stern, over where she would be buried. |
| The matter was further complicated by the testimony of her ex-boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, who says he is the father of her five-month-old baby Dannielynn. | The matter was further complicated by the testimony of her ex-boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, who says he is the father of her five-month-old baby Dannielynn. |
| Cell phone witness | Cell phone witness |
| During the six days of testimony, Judge Seidlin heard from all three, plus witnesses including a former bodyguard and ultimately Smith's ex-husband. | |
| Smith's death resulted in a tug of war over where she would be buried | Smith's death resulted in a tug of war over where she would be buried |
| The ex-husband, Billy Smith, testified over the speaker of a lawyer's cell phone, and said he thought Smith would have wanted to be buried next to her son in the Bahamas, where he died last year. | The ex-husband, Billy Smith, testified over the speaker of a lawyer's cell phone, and said he thought Smith would have wanted to be buried next to her son in the Bahamas, where he died last year. |
| Legal experts have questioned why Judge Seidlin spent six days hearing about Smith's alleged drug use, health, rehab, boyfriends, family and career only to decide that the ex-model's next of kin should get the body. | Legal experts have questioned why Judge Seidlin spent six days hearing about Smith's alleged drug use, health, rehab, boyfriends, family and career only to decide that the ex-model's next of kin should get the body. |
| Verging on tears, the judge directed the infant's court-appointed guardian, lawyer Richard Milstein, to consult with Ms Arthur, Mr Stern and Mr Birkhead before deciding where to bury the body. | |
| But he concluded: "I want her buried in the Bahamas with her son." | |
| The issue of Dannielynn's paternity remains to be decided by a second court. | The issue of Dannielynn's paternity remains to be decided by a second court. |