Berlusconi and wife trade allegations of

Various media reports have claimed that the Italian Prime Minister and his wife, Veronica Lario, have been trading allegations of adultery in the context of their divorce.

Mr Berlusconi's antics have been widely reported and it is understood that Ms Lario left Mr Berlusconi when she heard claims that he attended the party of a lingerie model and lavished gifts on her.

Conversely, it is thought that Mr Berlusconi has leaked to a newspaper that Ms Lario had an affair with her bodyguard.

It is not clear whether the publication of the allegations is intended to engender support/sympathy with the Italian Court or the wider public. It may simply be that they feel they need every tool at their disposal given the distance between their positions in their divorce. Ms Lario is apparently seeking £3.5 million a month in maintenance. Mr Berlusconi has offered £300,000.

Such allegations would be unlikely to have any impact in this country. The system in England deliberately keeps the divorce (and the reasons for it such as adultery etc) separate from issues relating to finances. 

This can be very difficult to come to terms with for some people. Quite understandably it feels terribly unfair to be financially worse off (as a result of a divorce) when you were in no way to blame for the separation.

The intention, however, is to try and minimise the animosity between the parties. The primary aim of the court is to ensure the needs of any children and the parties are met. This primary aim could become forgotten under the weight of "he said, she said" exchanges which can become emotional and heated.

The result is that a Court in England would not award more maintenance as a result of a husband's attraction to a lingerie model or less maintenance as a result of a wife's affair with her bodyguard, something Mr Terry is presumably rather relieved about.