No sign of settlement in McCartney divorce battle

Paul McCartney looked set today to be facing the nightmare of his private finances and life with estranged wife Heather Mills being submitted to the full glare of publicity.

His divorce battle with Miss Mills being held in private at the High Court goes into its final couple of days tomorrow with no agreement in sight.

If it does end up with Mr Justice Bennett imposing a settlement on the warring couple, the case could end up in the Court of Appeal where neither of the parties has the right to the case being heard in secret.

Whatever it is that Miss Mills wants from McCartney – whether an enormous slice of his reputed £825m (€1.14bn) fortune or rights he is not prepared to grant – the estranged couple would appear to be miles away from any sort of harmony.

Legal experts say most divorce cases – if there is to be a settlement – end after a day.

Behind the blacked out windows of Court 34 Mr Justice Bennett is presiding over a trial being waged by a couple who both want to win.

It is the judge who has to hear about all the issues dividing the couple.

He will then make the decision for them unless both sides throw in the towel and reach a settlement outside the court.

He will find for one side or the other – or somewhere between the two – and impose his decision which must be obeyed by both Sir Paul and Miss Mills.

The only route out of a decision of a High Court judge is to go to the Court of Appeal.

There, instead of the strict rules of the High Court Family Division forbidding public entrance to the courts, everything is in public.

It is well known that Miss Mills is anxious to reveal details of why her marriage with the former Beatle lasted less than four years.

They married in June 2002, four years after McCartney’s first wife Linda died of breast cancer.

This is a divorce which could top the list of big money payouts.