{"id":32398,"date":"2022-06-01T18:15:45","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T18:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/jury-reaches-verdict-in-johnny-depp-v-amber-heard-defamation-case\/"},"modified":"2022-06-01T18:15:45","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T18:15:45","slug":"jury-reaches-verdict-in-johnny-depp-v-amber-heard-defamation-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/jury-reaches-verdict-in-johnny-depp-v-amber-heard-defamation-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Jury reaches verdict in Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation case"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The jury has reached a verdict in the defamation trial opposing Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. <\/p>\n

The court in Fairfax, Virginia, issued an alert on Wednesday afternoon announcing the verdict would be read in court at 3pm after roughly 12 hours of deliberation. <\/p>\n

Mr Depp sued his ex-wife Ms Heard for $ 50m claiming she defamed him in an op-ed for The Washington Post <\/em>where she described herself as a victim of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n

Ms Heard countersued her former husband for $ 100m claiming he launched a \u201csmear campaign\u201d against her.<\/p>\n

Over the six-week trial beginning on 11 April, the court heard both Mr Depp and Ms Heard accuse each other of abuse and give vastly different accounts of particularly violent incidents during their relationship.<\/p>\n

Both actors took the stand where they gave emotional testimony over several days. <\/p>\n

Dozens of witnesses also testified in the case including famous faces supermodel Kate Moss and actor Ellen Barkin, as well as psychiatrists, police officers, Hollywood agents, friends and relatives.<\/p>\n

On 27 May, jurors finally began deliberations after hearing closing statements where both parties claimed to be the victim and not the abuser, accused the other party of lying and insisted that they just wanted to get on with their lives.<\/p>\n

Mr Depp’s lawyers told jurors that Ms Heard was the \u201cabuser\u201d and he was the \u201cabused\u201d during their tumultuous relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is an abuser in this courtroom but it is not Mr Depp,\u201d said attorney Camille Vasquez.<\/p>\n

“And there is a victim of domestic abuse in this courtroom but it is not Ms Heard.”<\/p>\n

Ms Vasquez said that Mr Depp suffered \u201cpersistent verbal, physical and emotional abuse\u201d at the hands of Ms Heard and that, after the relationship ended, she continued the abuse by \u201cfalsely\u201d accusing him of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is at stake in this trial is a man’s good name. Even more than that what is at stake in this trial is a man’s life, \u201dshe said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“The life that he lost when he was accused of a heinous crime and the life he could live when he is finally vindicated.”<\/p>\n

<\/amp-img>
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Johnny Depp’s attorney Camille Vasquez gives closing arguments at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(EPA)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She argued that Ms Heard had \u201clied\u201d throughout the case, saying that she has \u201ccome too far\u201d and now \u201ccan’t back down\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe’s lied too many times to too many people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In the closing argument for Ms Heard, attorney Benjamin Rottenborn accused Mr Depp of carrying out a \u201ccampaign of global humiliation\u201d against Ms Heard that sends a \u201cmessage\u201d to survivors of domestic abuse everywhere that they will not be believed.<\/p>\n

“In trying to convince you that Mr Depp has carried his burden of proof in proving that he was never abusive to Amber on even one occasion, think about the message that Mr Depp and his attorneys are sending to Amber and by extension to every victim of domestic abuse everywhere, \u201dhe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you didn’t take the picture it didn’t happen. If you did take pictures they’re fake … That is the message that Mr Depp is asking you to send. “<\/p>\n

He accused Mr Depp’s team of \u201cvictim blaming\u201d and told jurors that Mr Depp’s case had fallen apart because he has not proven that he never abused his ex-wife even \u201cjust one time\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/amp-img>
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Amber Heard’s attorney Benjamin Rottenborn accused Mr Depp of carrying out a campaign of global humiliation ‘ <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(EPA)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here’s what you need to know about the case:<\/p>\n

The lawsuit<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Mr Depp sued his ex-wife claiming she defamed him in a December 2018 op-ed published in The Washington Post<\/em> where she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse”.<\/p>\n

The Pirates of the Caribbean<\/em> actor is not named in the article, however he claims that it falsely implies that he is a domestic abuser – something that he says is “categorically and demonstrably false”.<\/p>\n

Mr Depp claims that the article has damaged his reputation and left him struggling to land roles in Hollywood.<\/p>\n

He is suing for \u201cnot less than\u201d $ 50m.<\/p>\n

The counterclaim<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Ms Heard filed a $ 100m counterclaim against Mr Depp for nuisance and immunity from his allegations.<\/p>\n

She accuses Mr Depp of orchestrating a \u201csmear campaign\u201d against her and describes his lawsuit as a continuation of \u201cabuse and harassment\u201d.<\/p>\n

The counterclaim revolves around comments made by one of Mr Depp’s attorneys Adam Waldman to the MailOnline.<\/p>\n

Mr Waldman, who is not representing Mr Depp in this trial, accused Ms Heard of lying about her allegations of domestic violence, branding her accusations “fake”, a “sexual violence hoax” and an “ambush”.<\/p>\n

He also leaked audio recordings to the media.<\/p>\n

Ms Heard claims she lost career opportunities because of Mr Waldman’s statements.<\/p>\n

The op-ed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

The op-ed, published in December 2018, was titled \u201cI spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change “.<\/p>\n

In it, Ms Heard wrote that she \u201cfelt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out\u201d after she came forward as a victim of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n

“Like many women, I had been harassed and sexually assaulted by the time I was of college age. But I kept quiet – I did not expect filing complaints to bring justice. And I didn’t see myself as a victim, \u201dshe wrote.<\/p>\n

“Then two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture’s wrath for women who speak out.”<\/p>\n

<\/amp-img>
\n
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The op-ed is displayed on screen as evidence in the defamation trial<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(POOL \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Johnny Depp’s testimony <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Mr Depp’s case centers around his claims that he never physically or sexually abused Ms Heard.<\/p>\n

Instead, he claimed that Ms Heard was physically violent towards him.<\/p>\n

Mr Depp testified across two days in April where he told the court that Ms Heard was the \u201cperfect partner\u201d in the early days of their relationship.<\/p>\n

But the relationship then deteriorated into arguments where he said Ms Heard \u201cberated\u201d him and resorted to \u201cdemeaning name calling\u201d and an \u201cendless parade of insults\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr Depp claimed that it was Ms Heard who became physically violent during their fights.<\/p>\n

In one now-infamous incident in Australia in 2015, Mr Depp lost the tip of his finger.<\/p>\n

He testified that his finger was severed by Ms Heard hurling a glass bottle at him.<\/p>\n

He told the court that his fingers were resting on the bar and the large vodka bottle “made contact and shattered everywhere”.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt no pain at first all. I felt heat and as if something was dripping down my hand, \u201dhe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was looking directly at my bones sticking out. Blood was just pouring out. “<\/p>\n

The court heard a recording of a conversation between Mr Depp and Ms Heard where the couple were arguing about a separate fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou punched me in the f *** ing thing,\u201d Mr Depp said.<\/p>\n

<\/amp-img>
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Johnny Depp returned to the stand on 25 May to testify in the trial <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(AP)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“You figured it all out,” Ms Heard responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t punch you by the way … I’m sorry that I didn’t hit you across the face in a proper slap. I was hitting you, I was not punching you. You’re not punched. “<\/p>\n

Mr Depp also testified that, while he has struggled with drugs and alcohol issues, his ex-wife’s accounts of his substance abuse are \u201cgrossly embellished\u201d.<\/p>\n

“The characterization of my substance, of my quote-unquote substance abuse that has been delivered by Ms Heard is grossly embellished, and I am sorry to say, but a lot of it is just plainly false,” he said.<\/p>\n

He told the court that his drug and alcohol use was an \u201ceasy target\u201d for Ms Heard.<\/p>\n

Amber Heard’s testimony<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

When Ms Heard took the stand across four days, she told the court about several alleged incidents of abuse at the hands of Mr Depp.<\/p>\n

Ms Heard testified that Mr Depp lavished her with gifts in the early days but soon began exhibiting jealous, controlling behavior around her career and who she spent time with.<\/p>\n

She told the court that, at the start of the violence, Mr Depp would \u201cthrow something, smash some things\u201d and call her names like \u201cwhore\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms Heard claimed that the first time Mr Depp hit her was when she laughed at his tattoo which reads “wino”.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s seemingly so stupid, so insignificant. I will never forget it. It changed my life, \u201dshe said.<\/p>\n

She said Mr Depp slapped her in the face and said \u201cyou think it’s so funny? You think it’s funny, b ****? “<\/p>\n

On the stand, Ms Heard gave a vastly different account to Mr Depp of the moment he lost the tip of his finger in the Australia in 2015.<\/p>\n

She testified that her then-husband pinned her down on a bar and sexually assaulted her with a glass liquor bottle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next thing I remember, I was bent over backwards on the bar, meaning my chest was up. I was staring at the blue light. My back di lui is on the countertop and I thought he was punching me. I felt this pressure on my pubic bone. I thought he was punching me, \u201dshe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could feel his arm moving and it looked like he was punching me. But I could just feel this pressure. “<\/p>\n

<\/amp-img>
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Amber Heard testifies at the Fairfax County Courthouse on 5 May 2022<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(JIM LO SCALZO \/ POOL \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ms Heard said she lay in fear that the glass may have been broken inside of her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember not wanting to move because I didn’t know of it was broken – I didn’t know if the bottle that he had inside me was broken,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn’t feel it. I didn’t feel pain. I didn’t feel pain. I didn’t feel anything. … I looked around and I saw so much broken glass … I just remember thinking ‘Please God, please. I hope it’s not broken. ‘”<\/p>\n

Ms Heard said the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Mr Depp was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, saying that they would refer to his alter ego as a \u201cmonster\u201d.<\/p>\n

What happened in deliberations?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Upon receiving the case on 27 May, the seven-person jury was tasked with reaching a verdict on both Mr Depp’s claim and Ms Heard’s counterclaim. <\/p>\n

To start, the jury had to reach a verdict about whether or not Ms Heard did defame Mr Depp in the op-ed.<\/p>\n

The burden of proof was on Mr Depp to prove that Ms Heard’s op-ed is about Mr Depp, is defamatory and false and that the statements were made with actual malice. <\/p>\n

If the jury found that Ms Heard did defame Mr Depp, she would be ordered to pay him damages.<\/p>\n

The jury would then determine the amount that Ms Heard should pay. They could recommend the full $ 50m or more or less.<\/p>\n

The jury also had to reach a verdict about whether or not Mr Waldman – while acting as an agent for Mr Depp – did defame Ms Heard in his statements to the media.<\/p>\n

The burden of proof was on Ms Heard to prove that Mr Waldman’s comments were about Ms Heard, were false and that the statements were made with actual malice.<\/p>\n

If the jury ruled in Ms Heard’s favor, they would then determine the amount that she should be paid in damages by Mr Depp. Again, this could be more or less than the $ 100m she sought.<\/p>\n

Beyond the courtroom<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Outside of the courtroom, there has been a huge online obsession with the case with bizarre conspiracies claiming Ms Heard snorted cocaine on the stand, to fandom around Mr Depp’s attorney Camille Vasquez, to viral videos of moments in the courtroom.<\/p>\n

“Social media has weaponised this trial,” Evan Nierman, CEO of Red Banyan Crisis PR firm and author of book Crisis Averted, told The Independent.<\/em><\/p>\n

“More people are drawing conclusions about guilt or innocence based on online curated content than they are the facts in the courtroom.”<\/p>\n

Social media users have been vastly skewed in Mr Depp’s favor.<\/p>\n

<\/amp-img>
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One fan holding a banner outside Fairfax County Courthouse in support of Johnny Depp <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(The Independent)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On TikTok, the hashtag #johnnydeppisinnocent had 4.9 billion uses by Wednesday, while #justiceforjohnnydepp had 15.7 billion uses.<\/p>\n

Similar hashtags in support of Ms Heard had only a fraction of the use, with justiceforamberheard racking up 52.1 million uses while #amberheardisinnocent had just 4.1 million. #Amberturd meanwhile had three billion uses.<\/p>\n

Fans of Mr Depp have also been lining the streets outside the courthouse in support of the Pirates<\/em> star to catch a glimpse of him entering the courthouse and to try to get one of the limited spaces in the public gallery each morning.<\/p>\n

Speaking in the line for a gallery seat on Thursday morning, Yvonne Deboer told The Independent <\/em>that she had taken a year off work to come to Virginia from her home in Los Angeles for the duration of the trial and had camped out every night to get a seat inside the courtroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love him dearly. I believe him and I’m here just for him, to support him, \u201dshe said of Mr Depp.<\/p>\n

While Mr Depp was cheered as he drove past the crowd, Ms Heard was met by boos and jeers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The jury has reached a verdict in the defamation trial opposing Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. The court in Fairfax, Virginia, issued an alert on Wednesday afternoon announcing the verdict would be read in court at 3pm after roughly 12 hours of deliberation. Mr Depp sued his ex-wife Ms Heard for $ 50m claiming she …<\/p>\n

Jury reaches verdict in Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation case<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/05\/27\/20\/DEPP-HEARD-DEMANDA_49516.jpg?ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/05\/27\/20\/DEPP-HEARD-DEMANDA_49516.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}