Will Sir Paul Come Away Unscathed?

The Divorce Hearing Has Been Harrowing For Heather Mills McCartney

(CBS)  Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney's high profile divorce made its way to a courtroom last week, and some say McCartney is claiming an early victory.

The former Beatle was seen emerging from a court hearing and flashed a "V" for victory sign while Mills emerged looking like a woman scorned. The ugly divorce battle is being played out in front of a judge and on front pages.

While it's too soon to declare a winner, those keeping score say McCartney seems to be up by a couple of touchdowns.

"Sir Paul McCartney has come out and done the thumbs up sign, we're all thinking, 'Oh, he's got one over on her.' Don't underestimate the power of Heather Mills. She's ruthless," entertainment reporter Neil Sean told CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips. "And what we quite like about the fact is that while she's playing this rather sickly, sweet, serene person, remember this is a woman who bagged a billionaire, if you like, from nowhere with a checkered past."

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Click here to see photos of Heather Mills McCartney

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Click here to see photos of Sir Paul McCartney

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A marriage that only lasted four years seems to have had a lot crammed into it. Most of it, according to Mills, was bad. Leaked court papers have revealed she's accused McCartney of violent abuse. He has countered by accusing her of lying and calling her a fantasist. According to courtroom sources, McCartney's claims have made more of an impression on the judge.

British attorney Mark Stephens said that the court battle has taken a toll on Mills. She recently had an outburst in court which raised many eyebrows in the London legal community.

"There was shouting heard from inside the courtroom and she came bursting out, was in tears and had to be consoled," Stephens told The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. "Clearly this truth and lies dossier is starting to get to her. They started to undermine her credibility at every possible turn taking every public utterance she's made about the marriage and the relationship and undermined it so she has no standing before the judge. So the judge can't believe anything she has to say. That … seems to be the tactic. Her legal team seems to be out-lawyered."

Stephens said the McCartney team has examined whether Mills was a prostitute or whether she posed for explicit photos, making the experience as harrowing as possible for her. Not only has McCartney's lawyers' tactics worked in court, they have also damaged Mills in the court of public opinion.

"In the battle for the PR, it really has to be Sir Paul McCartney," Sean said. "You've got to remember that he's got a 40-year history of people being in love with him and his music."

Both their reputations are at stake as is McCartney's reported $1.5 billion fortune and the fate of their daughter, Beatrice. She maybe down, but Sean says don't count Heather Mills out.

"This is a woman who is made of steel, hard as nails, she will come back," he said. "One way or another, Sir Paul will be paying for this marriage for a long, long time to come."

England seems firmly against Mills, who will star in the upcoming "Dancing with the Stars." She has said she wants to move to Los Angeles and take Beatrice with her.

"Sir Paul, who's been paying taxes in this country, a British resident, a British citizen and in those circumstances he obviously doesn't want to do that because he wants to see his daughter," Stephens said. "That's an issue, which is clearly going to be very live between them. I think at the end of the day, Heather is going to have to end up staying in this country with Beatrice just so Paul can see her."

[bellal-2009]

I'm so sorry that Paul and his children have to go through all of this. The McCartney family is wonderful and it's too bad this woman came into their lives. I miss Linda too.

[cmp271]

How much is a flight to London? I am on my way Paul, all of us are willing to be there for you. Paul has the world on his side, the court will do right by him.

Beatles forever!!! And Wings, and Macca, and just Pauly.

Make sure she loses her title too, she is no lady!!!

[cmp271]

I hated her the minute I saw her on Jay Leno, it was obvious then what she was. When she told the storey about his playing the piano and asking if that was a Beatles song, the *** should have known every song the Beatles ever played, he is her husband after all.

Mere words can't describe how I feel about her. The TV networks here in America also need to snub her. She is trash personified, let's not lower our standards and allow her access to any of our shows. Any show she is on we need to boycott-ARE YOU LISTENING IN TV LAND AND COMMERCILA LAND???? COMPANIES PLEASE REFUSE TO ADVERTISE ON ANY SHOW SHE IS ON!!!

Paul needs to forgive himself for his mistake of marrying her. He should be given custody as well of Beatrice so she can grow up wholesome and clean, and not subjected to the stream of "Johns" this *** will have in.

I suggest the Sun News replay the porno pictures they could put on their website so the world can see again what filth she is.

[upopinion]

The way i see it is, for all those years Paul was married to Linda, there was never any mention of the abusive behavior that this woman is claiming. Now all of a sudden we are suppose to believe that Paul Mc Cartney is an abusive husband? Riight!
Here's what Mills has accomplished. She bagged her millionaire, now she wants his money.Will she get it? Maybe or maybe not.
But what I do know is this, she now has a bad reputation, and as far as any man she sets her sight on in the future I highly doubt they will want any thing to do with her. In the long run she will get what she has coming to her

[jetlizhan]

i can't believe with his being a billionaire that he didn't have an iron-tight prenup. but with everything thing i've read, i'm definitely on his side.

[piscesmoon2]

Is anyone really suprised this happened and the resultant temper tantrums from Mills occuring in Court? Self restraint's not exactly her strong suit,folks. Paul was vulnerable,lonely and she played him like a Stradivarius.That disingenuous remark early on re:'I didn't really know who he was,' Come on!That raised my suspicions. My son was 15 in 2005 he begged me to get tickets to see Macca.Anyone over the age of four on both sides of the Atlantic knows who he is!I think she realized too late that being MARRIED to Paul was a lot better than getting divorced from him. Let's not forget: she is one ruthless woman;will do ANYTHING for money and there's a whole lot of money at stake here.Herlack of manners,basic civility plus her terrifying temper are her own worst enemies.

[unitedkfour]

I think we all would have had more respect for Mills if she had been "honest" from the start. If she had admitted she married Paul for the money and had a child for MORE money and then hung around as long as she could possible have stood it in order to GET the money. Paul, as well as everyone else involved, would have known where she was coming from. Seems her "Plan" has backfired and she has come out looking the bad guy. Hope the money is worth it. She obviously had no idea what she'd be up against.

[bobgee_1999]

I hate to point this out to all you Beatles freaks, but he's the one who married her. What's that say about HIM? Doesn't matter, she should have known going into this she would end up getting the Yoko treatment from you nuts.

[mgpm-2009]

The truth will out. I'm glad it's come out here. Hope he gets Bea. I'm sorry he didn't find someone kind and loving to share the rest of his years with. Maybe he will yet. As for her, goodbye to bad rubbish.

[us_infidel]

I knew she was full of it when she claimed McCa hid her prosthetic limb and she had to "crawl" up the stairs in to the jet. Please. Give her NOTHING!!!!

[lieber1881]

Paul has always been an icon, and an inspiration.

Heather, if you weren't so brutal and had been honest with us, you could have won our hearts like Linda did. Warm up, babe, and move on.

[beehive21-2009]

We can't wait to get married,so we can get a divorce.feeling the urge buy a babe its alot cheaper,and the good buy a lot sweeter.