Judge to rule on McCartney split after private deal fails (Roundup)

Feb 18, 2008, 17:48 GMT

Ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney leaves the High Court in London, Britain 19 February 2008. He is currently battling a divorce settlement with wife Heather Mills who has a daughter to the veteran pop star. EPA/Lindsey Parnaby

London - Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his estranged wife Heather Mills have found that they can't work it out, leaving it to a judge to decide on an expected multi-million divorce settlement.

After a week of heated battle behind closed doors in the Family Division of the High Court in London, it will now be up to Judge Hugh Bennett to decide on a financial settlement for the celebrity couple.

The news Monday proved rumours unfounded that Mills, a former model, had agreed to accept a share of around 50 million pounds (100 million dollars) of the musician's estimated fortune of 825 million pounds.

Leaving the High Court in London Monday, Sir Paul's lawyer, Nicholas Mostyn, said he had agreed to the judge reserving his ruling, due to be made in the coming weeks.

Mills, 40, who defended herself during the proceedings, was reported to have made 'a last stand' Monday in what had become an increasingly bitter battle.

But Sir Paul, 65, her husband of four years, did not show up for Monday's final session, preferring to rehearse for his performance at the Brit Awards pop music contest later this week.

The couple, who married in 2002, have a four-year-old daughter, Beatrice. Sir Paul's first wife, American Linda Eastman, died of breast cancer in 1998.

There had been speculation that the McCartney/Mills divorce could be the most expensive in British legal history, forcing the ex-Beatle to pay out up to 60 million pounds.

However, experts said this was now unlikely, as the judge would have to take into account factors including the short duration of the marriage and the fact that Sir Paul's wealth was established decades before the union.

A judgement by Bennett will decide on how the spoils of the marriage will be shared out and the conditions to be imposed on the warring couple.

It will be binding on both parties, but could be challenged at the Court of Appeal if one side is unhappy about it.

Such a move would entail a dramatic change as accusations would have to be traded in public court and any settlement would also have to be made public.

It is well known that Sir Paul is anxious to keep the details of his marriage to Mills out of the public domain.

But Mills appears to have no such qualms - she is reported to be planning a book on the subject which has the potential to earn her millions of pounds worldwide.