NASSAU, Bahamas, March 16 (UPI) -- Anna Nicole Smith's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead, the California photographer who claims he's the father of Smith's baby, has fired his attorney, Debra Opri.
"Larry Birkhead and I have terminated our attorney-client relationship effective immediately," Opri said in a statement. "I wish Larry the very best of luck in his continuing efforts to prove that he is Dannielynn's biological father. My prayers will be with Larry and Dannielynn always."
Opri represented Birkhead in paternity and custody matters, Fox News said Friday.
Also claiming paternity is Howard K. Stern, Smith's companion listed as the child's father on the birth certificate.
Birkhead, in the Bahamas preparing for Friday's custody hearing over the five-month-old girl, told "Access Hollywood" that he plans to go in a different direction and has "complete confidence in my attorney, Emerick Knowles, who's handling the Bahamas portion of my case."
The hearing in Nassau is unrelated to the California paternity suit, Birkhead said, "and there was no reason for a statement to be released just hours before my appearance in a Bahamas court."
The relationship between Birkhead and Opri reportedly was strained for several weeks.
