LONDON: Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his estranged wife Heather Mills arrived in court on Thursday amid reports their acrimonious divorce battle was drawing to a close.
British media have speculated that Mills could receive about £50 million in a final settlement although representatives from both camps have yet to say anything official. Mills, 39, was bundled into the London courtroom via the back entrance and under a cover thrown over her by security guards, waiting photographers said.
A Mills aide later carried a wheelchair from the back of a car for the former model, who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in 1993.
McCartney arrived minutes later, wearing a dark gray suit. The hearing is listed discreetly on the daily court lists only by its case number. Even a small security viewing hole in the door of the court room was covered to stop prying eyes.
News reports say the immediate issue is likely to be the size of Mills’ divorce settlement from the wealthy former Beatle. Press speculation has recently put the size of the settlement between £20 million and £50 million.
In August last year, insurance magnate John Charman was ordered to pay out £48 million to his wife after they divorced in 2003 after 27 years of marriage. McCartney, 65, who has a fortune estimated at about £825 million, married Mills in 2002. They have a daughter, Beatrice.
The Sun newspaper quoted an unnamed friend of Mills as saying the couple wanted to settle the divorce before Beatrice turned four.
