Two sons of a toymaking tycoon are in a High Court battle over a share of his £14.5million business empire - as one claims the other was 'conceived by his mother on a one-night stand with a lawyer' so is not entitled to the fortunes.
Late Stuart Marcus, a toymaking tycoon who started out selling wooden dolls' house kits above a small east London toy shop. He is pictured holding one of his art sets The bombshell was kept secret for more than a decade, but Jonathan finally discovered the news last year, triggering his High Court bid to have Edward removed as a beneficiary of Stuart's trust, which he says is backed by DNA evidence.
The court heard Stuart Marcus founded Kitfix Hobbies in 1962 and carved out a major niche in toys, board games and craft kits, later transferring the company HQ to a four-acre site at Swaffham, in Norfolk, where the company focuses on selling 'Sequin Art' craft packs. 'Not only does this impact upon Edward's present status and future entitlements, but Jonathan says that, had he known this, in light of the family friction at the time, Stuart would not have appointed Edward a co-trustee of the settlement in 2016.
His mum told him not to tell his younger brother the news, because he was 'too hot-headed and judgmental', Edward claimed, adding: 'it was an absolute bombshell'. Once there, he witnessed the pair of them 'cuddling,' said Edward, telling the court: 'I saw her sit on the bed and cuddle him and I was shocked to see her behaving that way because it wasn't the way I saw her behave with my father.'
Edward also argues that, even if accepted, the DNA tests do not establish which one of the brothers is related to Stuart as no DNA sample was taken from him. Patricia Marcus, however, denied that the relationship with Sydney continued beyond one night in 1977 and gave evidence confirming her belief that Edward is Sydney's son, adding that her former lover had also 'accepted Edward as his son'.
He said results of DNA tests showed that Edward and Jonathan are half siblings, with it being '25 times more likely that they are half siblings than full siblings'.'Patricia's evidence, and the undisputed fact that it was of course Edward to whom the revelation was initially divulged, can only lead to one conclusion.