DNA test shows Murphy is dad of Spice girl's baby

LOS ANGELES, June 23 (Reuters) A DNA test has confirmed actor-comedian Eddie Murphy is the father of the newborn daughter of Spice Girl singer Melanie Brown, People magazine reported citing Brown's representative.

Brown, 32, gave birth to Angel Iris Murphy Brown in April and listed Murphy as the father on the child's birth certificate, but the star of movies like ''Beverly Hills Cop'' and ''Dreamgirls'' has never publicly acknowledged paternity.

Earlier this month, media outlets reported that Murphy, 46, had taken a DNA test and Brown's representative, Liza Anderson, told People the results, confirming Murphy's paternity, were given to Brown on Thursday.

Murphy's spokesman declined to comment.

Brown, who dated Murphy last summer, was ''Scary Spice'' in the 1990s all-girl British pop group that scored hit songs such as ''Wannabe.'' Members of the group have scheduled a news conference for Thursday, sparking speculation that they will reunite for a tour and album.

REUTERS GP PM0946