DNA Can’t Tell Them Apart: Court Removes Parental Rights After Woman Sleeps With Twin Brothers In 4 Days
A court has ruled that it is impossible to determine the biological father of a child after a woman had sex with identical twin brothers within four days, with judges saying current DNA testing cannot distinguish between the two men.
The unusual case, heard at the Court of Appeal in London, also resulted in the suspension of parental responsibility for the man listed as the father on the birth certificate, despite his name remaining on official records.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, conceived the child after sleeping with both identical twins during the same conception window. Judges were told that because the brothers share identical DNA, scientific testing could not determine which of the two men fathered the child.
Court Says Paternity Cannot Be Proven
Delivering the judgment earlier this month, Sir Andrew McFarlane, sitting alongside Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Stuart-Smith, said it was impossible to establish paternity at present.
He said:
“Currently, the truth of P’s paternity is that their father is one or other of these two identical twins, but it is not possible to say which.”
The court heard that although advanced testing may eventually provide answers, the cost would be extremely high — estimated at around £90,000 (approximately US$113,400 — about R2,120,000).
Sir Andrew added:
“It is possible, indeed likely, that by the time P reaches maturity, it may be possible for science to identify one father and exclude the other twin, but, for the coming time, that cannot be done without very significant cost.”
The judges ruled that while one twin had been named on the birth certificate, that alone did not prove he was the biological father.
“The failure to prove a fact means that that fact is not proved; it does not mean that the contrary is proved,” Sir Andrew said.
Twins Slept With Woman Four Days Apart
Earlier findings by Judge Madeleine Reardon revealed that both brothers had intimate relations with the woman during the same conception period.
Judge Reardon found:
“Both brothers had had sex with the woman within four days of each other in the month when P was conceived, and it was equally likely that each of the brothers is P’s father.”
The case first emerged after the woman remained in a relationship with one of the twins, who was then registered as the father when the child was born in 2017.
However, after the couple separated in 2024, both brothers began claiming the child as theirs, leading to legal proceedings.
The dispute also reportedly strained the brothers’ previously close relationship.
Court Suspends Parental Responsibility
Although the twin listed on the birth certificate remains officially named as the father, the court ruled that his parental responsibility should be suspended until further arguments are heard.
Sir Andrew ruled:
“The first twin was not entitled to be registered as the father and any parental responsibility he had shall cease.”
Legal experts described the case as rare and highly unusual.
Emma Hubbard, senior associate at Hall Brown Family Law, said:
“The circumstances of this case are relatively unusual. I certainly can’t think of another one involving the same complications.”
She added:
“Where no definite biological link can be proven, it means a child may grow up having only a mother with parental responsibility for them.”
The case remains ongoing as the court considers further legal arguments.
No timeline has been given for a final resolution.
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The post DNA Is Useless: Court Rules After Woman Sleeps With Twin Brothers In 4 Days And Can’t Identify Father appeared first on iHarare News.
