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Brower County, Florida Medical Examiner JOSHUA PERPER (corr) has postponed the determination of the cause and manner of ANNA NICOLE SMITH’S DEATH, but hasn’t ruled out the actress/model died of natural causes.
Perper held a press conference in Florida minutes ago (09FEB07), leading many to speculate he’d reveal how Smith, 39, died on Thurday (08FEB07) - but he explained it will take him and his staff up to five weeks to determine how the model died.
The examiner told press his autopsy findings had ruled out "any kind of physical injuries, such as blunt-forced trauma, gunshot wound, stab wounds or asphyxia" as a cause of death.
Dr Perper also revealed he found "a small amount of blood in the stomach," which he suggests is related to her "being in terminal shock a short time before she died." The examiner also addressed sourced reports suggesting Anna Nicole Smith had overdosed, stating, "We didn’t find any kind of pills in the stomach," adding, "It’s a possibility that it might be a natural death." Dr Perper then explained he is intrigued by inflamation in Smith’s heart, which is not visible to the naked eye - and plans to investigate further in the coming days and weeks.
He said, "I saw something that looked a little bit unusual." The medical examiner also ruled out reports the actress/model was a longtime prescription drug abuser, stating, "There are no findings to indicate continuous drug abuse." Meanwhile, Seminole Police Chief CHARLIE TIGER, who is leading the police investigation into the death of the model, used the press conference to rule out initial foul play.
He said, "At this point no evidence has been revealed that a crime occurred.
We found no illegal drugs, only prescription medicines (in her hotel room).
"We are reviewing surveillance tapes but nothing unusual has been observed." Anna Nicole Smith died on her way to hospital after her private nurse found the model unconscious in her suite at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Thursday afternoon. (KL/WN) WENN - SPECIAL REPORT - 08 FEBRUARY 2007 ————————————————————————

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LATEST: ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s final TV interview with US news show ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT has left fans feeling sure she didn’t take her own life.
The 39-year-old died yesterday (08FEB07) shortly after her private nurse found her unconscious in a suite at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida.
Speculation surrounding the actress/model’s death has been rife but a final TV appearance, which aired as part of a tribute last night, has left Smith’s fans convinced she had everything to live for.
The footage, shot last week (ends02FEB07), features Smith showing Entertainment Tonight host MARK STEINES around her new home in The Bahamas, explaining how happy she was with the house and what she planned to do with the overgrown garden.
She told Steines, "I think I’m gonna grow okra, squash and tomatoes." She showed off the space that was to become her new home gym and her kitchen and "huge living room," and stated she hoped the new house would bring her a "stress-free" life.

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LATEST: ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s lawyer has fired back at attorneys representing the model’s ex-boyfriend after they expressed concern her baby might be switched for an upcoming paternity test.
Photojournalist LARRY BIRKHEAD’s lawyer DEBRA OPRI told reporters this morning (09FEB07) she was worried Smith’s partner and his legal team might employ a "bait and switch" tactic to further hamper her client’s paternity claims.
The ‘bait and switch’ is legal slang for a paternity test on the wrong baby conducted to get an incorrect reading concerning the child’s genetics.
At a press conference in Los Angeles, Opri stated, "We do not want a bait and switch. It is a legitimate legal concern that the baby being tested is Anna Nicole’s." The suggestion has angered RONALD A RALE, the lawyer representing the late star and her partner HOWARD K. STERN, who claims he’s the biological father of baby DANNIELYNN.
Rale says, "That’s a bunch of nonsense… There were allegations before that Anna Nicole dyed the baby’s hair! There’s been one circus allegation after another." Following the death of Smith yesterday (08JAN07), her five-month-old baby remains in The Bahamas, where Smith and her partner Stern have been living since last summer (06).

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LATEST: ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s family are backing photographer LARRY BIRKHEAD’s bid to prove he’s the biological father of the tragic model’s baby girl because they can’t bear the idea of the tot being raised by her partner HOWARD K. STERN.
Smith’s mother VIRGIE ARTHUR and her sister DONNA HOGAN were left devastated by the news Smith, 39, had died in Florida yesterday (08FEB07) and now they can only hope that Birkhead wins his paternity battle and takes custody of baby DANNIELYNN.
Speaking by phone on CNN show LARRY KING LIVE last night (08FEB07) Hogan said, "I’m going to make sure Howard K. Stern does not raise her (Dannielynn).
I do not believe he is the father and I don’t believe that he’s capable of raising her.
"I’m hoping that Larry Birkhead gets a chance to prove if he’s the father or not. And, if he is, then I’ll stand beside him on that. If not, then, yes, we need to step in." Hogan stated she holds Stern responsible for the deaths of her sister and nephew, DANIEL, who died of a lethal overdose last September (06).
She added, "Don’t even get me started on that man… I don’t have really good feelings about him right now.
"I have two family members that have died in his life just recently and it’s like he just stood by and let it happen."

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LATEST: Photographer LARRY BIRKHEAD has posted a farewell message to ANNA NICOLE SMITH on his website as he struggles to come to terms with his ex-girlfriend’s death.
Birkhead, who has been fighting a paternity battle with Smith over her baby daughter DANNIELYNN since late last year (06), told WENN "I just can’t talk" after hearing his former lover had died in a Florida hospital.
And now he’s put his thoughts and feelings into a final love note and posted it on his website LarryBirkhead.net.
The photographer writes, "Chance brought us together, our love couldn’t keep us apart. We loved, we laughed, we shared a connection that couldn’t be broken, regardless of the challenges.
"I loved her in life and I will love her long after." Birkhead, who is now seeking an emergency paternity order so he can take custody of the baby he claims is his biological daughter, references little Dannielynn in his touching poem.
He adds, "Our daughter, Dannielynn is a constant reminder of the love we shared and the life that we desired. My heart is broken, my tears are endless.
She (Smith) called me her angel, I called her my sweet potato, and every night before we went to sleep, she made me say to her… ‘GOODNIGHT MY SWEET ANNA BABY.’ An emergency court hearing is scheduled for today (09FEB07) to determine whether a court-ordered DNA sample will be taken from Smith’s body to help determine the biological father of the child. (KL/WN

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LATEST: The bodyguard who attempted to revive ANNA NICOLE SMITH in a Florida hotel room saved her life last year (06) when the actress/model was found face down in her swimming pool.
Her minder, MO, performed CPR on Smith after her nurse found her unconscious in her room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, but it wasn’t the first time the trained paramedic had attempted to save the busty blonde’s life.
According to US TV reporter MARK STEINES, who conducted the last interview with Smith last week (ends02FEB07), the former Playboy Playmate was found drowning in the pool at her home in The Bahamas in the weeks after her son DANIEL’s tragic overdose death last September (07).
Steines, who became close to Smith and her partner HOWARD K STERN while conducting a series of interviews with them in recent months, says, "Some of the time after Daniel died; it’s still unclear exactly (when), Anna Nicole was found face down in her pool at her house in The Bahamas.
"Howard found her there, he screamed for help, her bodyguard Mo came to her rescue; Mo is a paramedic. He pulled her from the pool, administered CPR and saved her life at that point, so she was living… a very fragile existence." Steines insists that, although Smith had big plans for the future - and had picked out a ring for her upcoming wedding to Stern - she was spiralling into depression, and she seemed "distant" and "foggy" during the TV interview for ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT last week.
He adds, "Howard told us that he felt she never really overcame Daniel’s death, and that, in fact, instead of getting better, she seemed to be getting worse and worse and falling into a deeper and deeper depression."

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LATEST: ZSA ZSA GABOR’s husband PRINCE FREDERIC VON ANHALT has added a new twist to the paternity battle over late actress/model ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s baby daughter after stating he could be the child’s father.
Smith’s ex-boyfriend LARRY BIRKHEAD and partner/attorney HOWARD K. STERN are fighting over paternity, both claiming to be baby DANNIELYNN’s biological father, but now 59-year-old Anhalt suggests he, too, could be the baby’s daddy.
He tells the Associated Press he has had a decade-long affair with Smith, adding he’ll file a paternity lawsuit if either Birkhead or Stern are granted custody of baby Dannielynn.
The paternity issue will be resolved on 20 February (07), when a court-ordered DNA test on the five-month-old baby takes place in Los Angeles.
At present, Stern is listed as the baby’s father on her birth certificate, but Birkhead has been fighting to prove he’s the father since late last year (06). Von Anhalt has been married to socialite and actress Gabor, 90, for over 20 years.

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LATEST: ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s ex-boyfriend LARRY BIRKHEAD has lost his bid to obtain court-ordered DNA extracted from the actress/model’s corpse.
The photojournalist’s attorney, DEBRA OPRI, applied for an emergency DNA test in Los Angeles this morning (09FEB07), but managed only to bring her client’s paternity battle for Smith’s baby daughter DANNIELYNN forward a day.
Speaking outside court, Opri said, "We had an emergency court hearing…
because we are concerned, based upon doctors (and) our experts advice, that there would be a serious issue as to the preservation of evidence.
"We now have to come back on February 20th. Nothing has been decided today.
There was no granting of a motion, no denial of a motion… We have a full hearing on the 20th." The 20 February paternity hearing, which will end the battle over whether Birkhead or Smith’s attorney/partner HOWARD K STERN is the biological father of Dannielynn, could also lead to a contempt of court charge against Stern over claims he made indicating he’s the father of the child.
Attorneys for Stern confirm Birkhead’s legal team has claimed their client lied under declaration and Opri brought a petition to ask the court for a contempt hearing.
Defiant Opri says, "Everything will be (heard) on February 20th, as well as Mr Howard K. Stern’s contempt hearing. I hope he shows up, so he doesn’t get a bench warrant." Meanwhile, Smith and Stern’s lawyer RON RALE has slammed Birkhead’s legal team as "disrespectful" for trying to obtain DNA from his late client a day after her death.
Rale has also confirmed Birkhead has lost a bid to have baby Dannielynn delivered to his immediate custody.
Rale says, "Larry Birkhead came in here again today and asked the court to order that the baby, Dannielynn, be delivered to his custody. That request was denied… This court has dismissed the custody claims." The judge overseeing this morning’s proceedings has ordered the body of Anna Nicole Smith to be preserved, pending the hearing on the paternity dispute surrounding Dannielynn.

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Music legend QUINCY JONES almost missed out on his breakthrough movie role because writer TRUMAN CAPOTE objected to a black man scoring his film.
The revered producer and film composer was hired to score the 1967 film IN COLD BLOOD, which was adapted from Capote’s book of the same name.
But when the writer learned that Jones had been given the job over his friend LEONARD BERNSTEIN, he lobbied director RICHARD BROOKS to get rid of the budding composer.
Jones recalls, "You’re talking about a time when universities didn’t even have black people in the kitchen. It was a different day then and Richard really fought for me because Capote was not crazy about me doing the score. I don’t blame him.
"He couldn’t understand why I was doing a film with no black people in it.
There were no black films then."

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Rock veterans GENESIS are preparing to take Italy by storm - they’re playing their biggest gig ever in Rome this summer (07).
The band, who reunited last year (06) for their first tour in 15 years, will play their final date at the Circo Massimo on 14 July - and they’re hoping 400,000 die-hard fans will join them.
Two tour dates in Austria and the Czech Republic have had to be rescheduled to accommodate the Rome extravaganza, but TONY BANKS, PHIL COLLINS and MIKE RUTHERFORD were determined to bring their Turn It On Again show to a climactic end.
The event will be ticketless, with fans urged to turn up early on the day to secure a spot on a first come first basis.

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Reclusive Irish music star VAN MORRISON is to be honoured in Los Angeles - for his film work.
The GLORIA singer will receive a lifetime achievement prize from AL PACINO at the upcoming US-Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde: Honoring Irish Writing in Film, at which he’ll also perform.
Morrison is being honoured for the music he has contributed to over 50 movies, including a version of PINK FLOYD’s COMFORTABLY NUMB in hit film THE DEPARTED.
Morrison will be feted, along with director TERRY GEORGE, at the event on 22 February (07).

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Country star CARRIE UNDERWOOD is reportedly dating British singer OLIVER TREVENA after dumping American football hunk TONY ROMO.
The AMERICAN IDOL winner and Romo went public with their romance at Christmas (06), after the singer was spotted cheering the quarterback on at a Christmas Day (25DEC06) Dallas Cowboys game.
But now she has been spotted hugging and kissing Trevena after he drove her to Los Angeles’ LAX airport late last month (JAN07), where she was scheduled to catch a flight. A source tells Us Weekly magazine, Underwood and Trevena began dating weeks ago.

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LATEST: JAMES BROWN’s widow TOMI RAE HYNIE has been given permission to return to the home she shared with the late soul great to collect her belongings after a face-off with her stepchildren in court.
Hynie is currently contesting her late husband’s will after discovering she and her five-year-old son have been left out of inheriting anything from the Godfather of Soul.
The backing singer has been locked out of the South Carolina home she shared with Brown since his death on Christmas Day (25DEC06).
Hynie and Brown’s six adult children were in court in South Carolina this morning (09FEB07) after suing three trustees they allege have mismanaged the soul star’s estate. The family want the trustees removed.
A judge in the case granted Hynie permission access to the nearby mansion, so she could pick up clothing and furniture items she claims belong to her and her five-year-old son.
Meanwhile, Brown’s body remains at an undisclosed location, awaiting a decision on where he will be buried.

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Pop veteran SIR ELTON JOHN has been hailed a "musical genius" by hip-hop producer TIMBALAND, after the pair collaborated on a recent track.
Timbaland, who has also worked with music sensations including NELLY FURTADO, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and BJORK, admits he was star-struck when John entered the studio - despite the fact he barely opened his mouth to sing.
He tells MTV, "He played for at least seven hours. He was dope. You’re talking about a guy … he’s done songs with ARETHA FRANKLIN. You’re talking about a dude I can’t keep up with. That’s all I can say.
"The song I got with him, really it’s just him playing. I don’t have him singing. I might have him say one little line, that’s it. It’s more about his art and what he does. That’s what people loved him for. When BENNIE AND THE JETS came out, there really weren’t any lyrics. It was more about the music.
He’s a musical genius."

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Oscar-nominated movie CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER has angered the Chinese Communist Party for its "immoral" presentation of modern Chinese cinema.
The film - the most expensive ever to be produced in the country - has been criticised for gratuitous use of nudity since its release last year (06), but the latest controversy singles out ZHANG YIMOU’s blockbuster for its "lack of morality".
A report in an official journal of the Communist Party, Study Times, brands the $44.35 million (£23 million) Curse Of The Golden Flower "bloodthirsty" and condemns the movie’s reliance on "glitzy special effects".
The review reads, "After watching Curse of the Golden Flower, this feeling of nausea just would not go away. In short, it’s a bloodthirsty movie.
"Fine art is not built on money. Good movies are not based on banquets of glitzy scenes and effects, and less so when violence and sex are involved.
"Morality on its own cannot make great art. But without it, the ‘blockbusters’ only make people feel bad." Zhang earned a Best Foreign Film Oscar nomination in 1991 for RAISE THE RED LANTERN. Many of his films have been banned on the Chinese mainland but he was recently recruited by Olympic organisers to direct the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

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The director of the musical adaptation of THE LORD OF THE RINGS has apologised to late author J.R.R. TOLKIEN for the show’s forthcoming run in London’s West End.
MATTHEW WARCHUS admits he visited the writer’s grave in Wolvercote Cemetary, Oxfordshire, England to repent for his interpretation of the seminal text, which he has described as "Shakespeare meets Cirque du Soleil".
He says, "I visited his grave a few months ago to kind of apologise and get his seal of approval. It was a magical moment. I apologised just in case he didn’t like the idea of his novel becoming a stage show." The $48.75 million (£25 million) stage show was poorly received by critics when it first opened in Toronto, Canada, and as a result has been reworked for its UK debut on 19 June (07).

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Disney’s hit made-for-TV movie HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is to make a leap to the big screen, with a new spin-off feature film in the pipeline.
The film giant hopes HAUNTED HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL will emulate the success of the original show, which made profits of $100 million (£51 million).
GARY MARSH, president of Disney Channel Worldwide, says, "High School Musical sky-rocketed to heights never before achieved by a TV movie, so it’s only fitting that its next incarnation should be as a major motion picture.
A second made-for-TV sequel, High School Musical 2, is currently being produced and will air on the Disney Channel this summer (07).
As yet, no plot details for Haunted High School Musical have been released.

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British actor HUGH GRANT has earmarked pop star GEORGE MICHAEL to play him in a potential biopic of his turbulent life.
The NOTTING HILL actor, who was arrested for lewd conduct after cops found him with a prostitute in his car in 1995, insists CARELESS WHISPER star Michael holds a burning ambition to play him.
He tells British radio station Heart, "I know that it’s something that George has always wanted to do.
"He sent me a script the other day actually. It’s not my whole life - just really the years between 20 and 25 - and it’s very flattering."

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