A NEW twist developed in the tragedy of former Hong Kong minister Lord Caithness yesterday as it was revealed that he pressed for separation from his wife for years - and every time she threatened to shoot herself.
The peer has refused to comment about the circumstances leading up to the suicide of his wife a fortnight ago when she shot herself after details of his relationship with political hostess Jan Fitzalan-Howard became known.
But now a close relative of the Earl, who resigned as Transport Minister following the tragedy, has spoken out.
The Earl's wife, Diana, whose funeral was held last week, was described as cold, uncaring and neurotic. Her weight had dropped to less than seven stone through anorexia and she apparently had difficulty looking after her family at their rural Oxfordshire home.
The relative, who has remained unnamed, spoke out in a lengthy article in The Mail on Sunday.
''Diana and Malcolm had been living together only in name for some time. The marriage was all but ended several years ago and Malcolm lived a very cold and loveless life, filled with work at the House and work as a minister instead of affection,'' the relative said.
