January 23, 2013 - 4:57 PM
VANCOUVER - One of the owners of the Vancouver Canucks says he shouldn't have to sell a wine collection worth $615,000 to pay for his estranged wife's bills.
The issue arose during pre-trial divorce hearings in B.C. Supreme Court between Francesco Aquilini and Taliah Aquilini.
Taliah's lawyer, Paul Daltrop, says his client was a stay-at-home mom for more than 20 years and has no income other than money given to her by the Aquilini family.
Daltrop says selling the wine would level the playing field, noting Francesco Aquilini has also had access to an investment fund worth more than $1 million.
But Karen Shirley-Paterson, the lawyer for Francesco Aquilini, says her client had to use money from investments to pay off debt and buy a residence, while Taliah remains in the family's multi-million dollar home.
Justice Nathan Smith has yet to rule on the wine sale, and has ordered two more days of pre-trial hearings.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013