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LONDON - A divorcee granted a British record £48 million ($134 million) when she split from her husband has been tied up and robbed of her jewellery at her luxury home by a balaclava-clad gunman.
Beverley Charman, 53, the former wife of insurance magnate John Charman, was threatened by a gunman when she was alone in her gated mansion in Kent.
The ordeal came at the end of a week in which Charman faced her former husband at London's Court of Appeal where he is challenging the payout, which made legal history.
Police are investigating the theory that her high-profile divorce may have made her a target for thieves.
In Saturday's incident, a man broke into the house, which is on a private road and is surrounded by high walls and electronically controlled gates.
Charman was threatened with a gun - which police said could have been an imitation gun or a pellet gun - and forced to open a safe and hand over several thousand pounds worth of jewellery. She was bound, but not gagged, and found unhurt by one of her two grown-up sons when he arrived home 20 minutes later.
Charman is defending her £48 million divorce award, telling the Court of Appeal last week that family assets should generally be divided equally between the bread-winner and the home-maker when a marriage breaks down.
Her settlement has reduced her former husband's wealth to around £87 million. She has rejected his offer of £20 million. Her lawyers argued that fairness demands an equal division of assets built up during a marriage.
But her husband's QC, Martin Pointer, who also represents Heather Mills McCartney in her forthcoming divorce, says courts should still have discretion in dividing marital assets.
* The Daily Express reported that Heather Mills is expected to walk away with about £30 million in her divorce settlement with Sir Paul McCartney.
It said the judge will "ring fence" the former Beatle's fortune gained prior to their 2000 marriage but his earnings during their four years together included income from three tours.
- INDEPENDENT
