By Diandra Grandison, Staff Reporter

Despite being adamant that her 11-year-old son does not belong to her lover, Agatha Richardsis hoping to be selected as this month's Paternity Puzzle winner so she can get a DNA test done to ease his mind.

Richards, a 40-year-old student, and Donovan Brown, 38, a security guard, both from Kingston addresses, told THE STAR that they knew each other since their childhood, as they were once schoolmates. They, however, lost contact after graduation, but reunited about 17 years later and became involved intimately. About two years later, Richards became pregnant.

THE STAR asked the pair how the doubts about the child's paternity surfaced, to which they both stated that it was because of Richard's infidelity.

Richards: "I'm the one with the doubts, there was someone else I was involved with at the time we reunited, and I think that he is that man's child."

Brown: "She keep on a seh anuh my youth." THE STAR then asked the pair if they are still in a relationship despite the doubts.

Richards: "Yes, we are still in a relationship."

Brown: "Me wouldn't say is a relationship, is more a use ting."

Brown explained to THE STAR that Richards is only in a relationship with him because he takes care of her and her five children.

Brown: "From day one we a talk, she wudda tell people we nuh deh; me love har, but she nuh love me. She a talk to me outta convenience. From day one, a me alone responsible fi dem. Right throughout the pregnancy, me deh with har; the youths dem naa go survive without me because a me alone tek care of them." Richards also admitted to THE STAR that Brown does indeed assist with the maintenance of her children.

Richards: "He's a nice person, very kind and helpful and always willing to assist, and my children look up to him." Richards told THE STAR that her son is registered in the other man's name, but Brown told THE STAR that despite the child's last name and Richards' belief, he is sure the child is his.

Brown: "She give him to someone else, and the man not even want him. A my youth, but because she put him inna di man name, suh me just tell him seh a him a him father, but I am his father."

THE STAR then asked the pair whom the child resembles.

Richards: "The child has a resemblance of me, but to be honest, he looks like the person's name that he's in."

Brown: "Him have nuff look a him mother, but he resembles me. If him deh round me, me naffi tell nuh body seh a my youth, although sometimes the looks can be there and it nuh go suh."

The pair was asked what they would like the outcome to be.

Richards: "For the child's future, I'm hoping it's for Donovan, he's a better father and role model, and he is there for him and my other children."

Brown: "Me want the results to say is mine."

They were then asked what would happen if the results should say that Brown is not the child's biological father.

Richards: "Well, I know it will affect the child because he so wants him to be the father. The child will be devastated because he loves him. He looks up to him, he even wants to go and live with him."

Brown: "Even if anuh my youth, me kyah abandon him or her other kids dem, cause we have a bond, from the early stage til now, from before him born and inna belly, me and him have a relationship. If me fi go one side, me ago feel like me a desert all a dem."

Names Changed.

Do you have any doubts that a child is yours, or have you been denied access to a child who you believe is yours? Well, here is the chance for you to find out the truth. Contact THE STAR at 932-6271/932-6249 or 932-6282 to share your story and qualify for a chance to get a free DNA test, courtesy of Caribbean Genetics.