In a case that would make Jerry Springer’s head spin, a judge in Brazil has ruled that identical twins must pay child support to a nine-year-old girl, after both denied paternity.
Each brother will have to hand over 30% of their monthly salary – roughly $77 – to the girl’s mom, as well as paying towards medical, dental, clothing and school costs.
In his controversial ruling, Judge Felipe Peruca said: “One of the brothers, in bad faith, seeks to conceal paternity. Such behaviour should not be protected by the judiciary.”
Apparently, the twins have been running circles around their small hometown of Cachoeira Alta, in Goiás state, for years. The
Goiás justice tribunal explained: “Since adolescence, the pair used their identical appearance to hide betrayals and win over more women.”
The mother had a one night stand with the father of her child after they met at a party. In her court statement, she said: “He told me he had a twin brother, but I wasn’t introduced. At the time I didn’t suspect anything.”
After her daughter’s birth, she demanded the man take a paternity test. When it came back 99% positive, he claimed it was his twin she’d slept with, not him.
The twin brother’s test also came back 99% positive, as identical twins come from the same egg and have matching DNA.
“It’s a very sad attitude, there was no need for this. They know the truth but took advantage of the similarity to escape responsibility,” the mother said.
A more complex twin test would cost $15,773, and there is no guarantee a conclusive result could be determined.
The mother’s lawyer Evandro Paganini, said the now-25-year-old woman is displeased with the ruling, and plans to appeal the decision.
“We believe the child has the right to know who the biological father is,” she said.
