Heather Mills hammered in judge's verdict

Mar 19 2008 The Journal

HEATHER Mills’s evidence at her divorce hearing against Sir Paul McCartney was branded inaccurate and less than candid yesterday.

Mr Justice Bennett’s comments emerged after she failed to stop publication of a divorce judgment which was highly critical of her as a witness.

Justice Bennett said her evidence was not just inconsistent and inaccurate, but also less than candid. And he ended his ruling with advice for anyone who puts forward “an excessive, indeed exorbitant, claim”.

They have only themselves to blame if the court awards much less than they expected, he said.

Washington-born former model Miss Mills sought an award of almost £125m but the judge decided she should leave her marriage to the former Beatle with a total of £24.3m. They have a daughter Beatrice, four.

Mr Justice Bennett had given Miss Mills a chance to appeal his decision to release the full judgment. Two appeal judges refused her request and the judgment became public.

The husband’s evidence, said the judge, was balanced. “He expressed himself moderately though at times with justifiable irritation, if not anger.

“He was consistent, accurate and honest. But I regret I cannot say the same about the wife’s evidence.

“I am driven to the conclusion that much of her evidence, written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid.”

Mr Justice Bennett said Miss Mills, who lost part of her leg in a road accident, was a strong-willed and determined personality who had shown great fortitude in overcoming her disability.

But the judge said he could not accept her case that she was wealthy and independent by the time she met the former Beatle in 1999.

One of her claims was for compensation for her lost career and she gave evidence that Sir Paul had advised her against “countless, lucrative business opportunities.”

But the judge ruled: “I find that, far from the husband dictating to and restricting the wife’s career and charitable activities, he did the exact opposite.

“He encouraged it and lent his support, name and reputation to her business and charitable activities.”

Miss Mills also claimed she had counselled Sir Paul through his grieving over his wife, Linda, who died a year before he met Miss Mills.

The judge acknowledged that Sir Paul agreed that Miss Mills helped him through his grieving but he added: “I have to say that the wife’s evidence that in some way she was the husband’s ’psychologist’, even allowing for hyperbole, is typical of her make-belief.”

He also accused Miss Mills of “flagrantly” over-egging the pudding when it came to making claims for her budget, claims the judge said were unreasonable.

Miss Mills last night said that Mr Justice Bennett’s judgment was outrageous.

Read the full judgment on the following pages