http://stuff.co.nz/images/701547.jpg
SACKED LAWYER: Heather Mills leaves court after facing off against her ex-husband Paul McCartney in court.
Arriving separately and saying little, Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills went to court yesterday to reach a financial settlement in their acrimonious, high-stakes divorce.
The High Court hearing, called to divide up the former Beatle's fortune of as much as $NZ2 billion, had all the elements of high showbiz drama - hovering news helicopters, swarms of photographers and waiting reporters.
But what happened in Court 34 on the first day of the five-day hearing is shrouded in secrecy. Unlike most British court cases, divorce proceedings are heard in private.
The windows of the oak-paneled courtroom were papered over to stop prying eyes, and signs on the door read: "No Admittance - Strictly Private."
McCartney, 65, went into court accompanied by his lawyer, Fiona Shackleton. Mills, 40, who fired her legal team late last year, is believed to be representing herself.
The terms of any settlement will not become public unless it is challenged in the Court of Appeal, or either party chooses to reveal details.
Media have suggested that McCartney has offered Mills around £25 million and that she is seeking at least double that.
"Current estimates suggest that Heather is likely to receive anything from £50 million to £100 million pounds," said Suzanne Kingston, a family law expert.
