DNA test for James Brown's 'son'

James Brown was considered one of the world's greatest soul singers

James Brown's former partner Tomi Rae Hynie has been told by a US judge to have a DNA test carried out on the boy she claims to be the late singer's son.

The DNA test is the latest instalment in the fight over Brown's estate.

Most of the estate was left to trusts, set up to educate disadvantaged young people, and to his grandchildren.

But six of his adult children, along with Ms Hynie, are contesting the will. Brown died from pneumonia on Christmas Day 2006 at the age of 73.

His will named six children but neither Ms Hynie nor her six-year-old son James Brown II were mentioned.

Trustees handling the singer's estate are questioning Ms Hynie's claims about her son and also dispute that she was married to him at all.

But Peter Shahid, a court-appointed lawyer for the six-year-old, said the child had received insurance benefits since the soul singer's death.

"We have writings that he has signed indicating that this is his son," he added.

"He talks lovingly of his child. So all indications are this is the son of James Brown."

'Earlier wills'

Ms Hynie's lawyer Robert Rosen said his client had never objected to a paternity test.

"She's said that she was in favour and would do the test, provided that the other children also took the test."

A lawyer for Brown's adult children said he had no comment on the judge's ruling.

The Brown children challenging the will in Aiken County Probate Court, South Carolina, are Deanna Brown Thomas, Venisha Brown, Daryl Brown, Yamma Brown Lumar and Larry Brown.

They claim three of Brown's former advisers convinced the singer to create the trusts so they could profit from managing them.

Their lawyer, Louis Levenson, has said the children have discovered earlier wills drafted by their father which cast doubt on whether he wanted most of his money left to charity.