Jury returns verdict in favour of Johnny Depp in defamation trial with Amber Heard – Nationwide

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The jury has returned a verdict in favor of Johnny Depp in his $50-million defamation trial towards his ex-wife Amber Heard.

The jury dominated that Heard defamed Depp with malicious intent in a 2018 Washington Publish op-ed claiming that she was a sufferer of home abuse.

Depp was awarded $15-million in whole – $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

The jury additionally awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages, ruling that Depp’s lawyer Adam Waldman defamed her when he referred to as her abuse claims “a hoax” in a British newspaper.

Depp, who’s out touring, didn’t seem within the courtroom for the decision. Heard, nevertheless, was in attendance and appeared stoic as the decision was learn.

“The frustration I really feel in the present day is past phrases,” Amber Heard stated in a press release following the decision. “I’m heartbroken that the mountain of proof nonetheless was not sufficient to face as much as the disproportionate energy, affect, and sway of my ex-husband.

“I’m much more dissatisfied with what this verdict means for different girls. It’s a setback. It units again the clock to a time when a girl who spoke up and spoke out could possibly be publicly shamed and humiliated. It units again the concept violence towards girls is to be taken significantly,” Heard continued.

“I’m unhappy I misplaced this case. However I’m sadder nonetheless that I appear to have misplaced a proper I believed I had as an American – to talk freely and brazenly,” the assertion concluded.

Depp additionally launched his personal assertion: “Six years in the past, my life, the lifetime of my kids, the lives of these closest to me, and in addition, the lives of the folks, who for a lot of, a few years have supported and believed me have been without end modified. All within the blink of an eye fixed,” he wrote.

“False, very critical and legal allegations have been levied at me by way of the media, which triggered an infinite barrage of hateful content material, though no costs have been ever introduced towards me. It had already travelled world wide twice inside a nanosecond and it had a seismic influence on my life and my profession,” he continued.

“And 6 years later, the jury gave me my life again. I’m actually humbled.

“From the very starting, the aim of bringing this case was to disclose the reality, whatever the end result. Talking the reality was one thing that I owed to my kids and to all those that have remained steadfast of their help of me. I really feel at peace realizing I’ve lastly achieved that.”

Depp’s legal professional, Camille Vasquez, appeared exterior the courthouse to thank the jury and stated the decision confirms that “the claims towards Johnny Depp are defamatory and unsupported by any proof”.

“We’re… so grateful to the jury for his or her cautious deliberation,” she informed reporters.

One other Depp legal professional, Benjamin Chew, stated his staff was “most happy that the trial has resonated for therefore many individuals within the public who worth reality and justice”.

“Now that the jury has reached its conclusive verdict, it’s time to show the web page and look to the long run,” he added.

Regardless of testimony on the trial that he could possibly be violent, abusive and uncontrolled, Depp acquired a standing ovation Tuesday evening in London after performing for about 40 minutes with Jeff Beck on the Royal Albert Corridor. He has beforehand toured with Joe Perry and Alice Cooper because the group Hollywood Vampires.

The trial, which befell over six weeks, noticed the actors and ex-spouses competing via their authorized groups to color the opposite as an aggressive abuser of their relationship, all whereas sustaining they have been the actual sufferer.

Depp, 58, sued Heard, 36, for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court docket over an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Publish describing herself as “a public determine representing home abuse.”

Regardless that Heard by no means named Depp within the article, his attorneys nonetheless claimed it had devastating results on his profession, fame and private life.

“Your presence exhibits the place your priorities are,” stated a spokesperson for Heard. “Johnny Depp performs guitar within the UK whereas Amber Heard waits for a verdict in Virginia. Depp is taking his snickering and lack of seriousness on tour.”

Of their closing statements on Might 27, each groups pressed the jury to discover a verdict of their favour.

Staff Depp insisted Heard lied each in public and in her testimony, claiming she created a false narrative that made Depp appear to be an alcoholic, drug-addicted “monster.” In his testimony, Depp stated he had by no means had any substance abuse points (excluding Roxicodone, which he claims he’s now not hooked on).

He claimed all through that he has by no means hit a girl in his life.

4:05
Johnny Depp alleges Amber Heard threw liquor bottle at him, severing his finger

Through the trial, jurors heard a number of graphic descriptions of alleged assault from each events, together with a now-infamous declare from Depp that Heard severed the tip of his finger with a glass bottle.

Heard’s model of the story held that whereas she couldn’t say for sure how Depp misplaced the digit, she was a sufferer of quite a few assaults at his hand, together with an alleged sexual assault.

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Amber Heard particulars alleged sexual assault by Johnny Depp

Depp’s attorneys claimed Heard’s accounts of violent bodily, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse have been all fictitious and for private monetary and profession acquire.

Camille Vasquez, a lawyer for Depp, informed the jury of their closing statements that Heard didn’t simply need a divorce from Depp in 2016, she needed to spoil him.

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Depp’s lawyer says he was ‘actual sufferer of home abuse’ in closing arguments

One other Depp lawyer, Benjamin Chew, informed the jury earlier than deliberation that Depp “didn’t and doesn’t should have his life, his legacy, destroyed by some lie.”

Alternatively, Heard’s attorneys insisted Depp filed this lawsuit as a part of a “smear marketing campaign” to spoil Heard’s fame and profession whereas disputing her claims of home violence towards him.

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Heard’s attorneys refute Depp’s claims she perpetrated a hoax: ‘what would Amber Heard’s motive be?’

They insisted the Washington Publish article was “not a success piece on Johnny Depp,” additionally calling the actions of his staff “disgusting” and “sufferer blaming.”

“Mr. Depp can merely not show to you that he by no means abused Amber,” Heard’s attorneys informed the jury.

Each Depp and Heard testified quite a few instances all through the trial. The actors individually insisted the authorized course of has been emotional and embarrassing to bear on such a public degree.

Depp initially sued Heard for USD$50 million in damages. Heard countersued her ex for $100 million.