Johnny Depp gained his defamation trial in opposition to ex-wife Amber Heard.
The jury got here to a unanimous verdict Wednesday after a three-day deliberation during which they debated whether or not the “Aquaman” actress defamed Depp in her 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post during which she referred to herself as a public determine representing home abuse.
Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
In the meantime, Heard had a minor victory herself in her countersuit in opposition to Depp with the jury awarding her $2 million for punitive damages.
The 36-year-old actress was current within the courtroom for the decision listening to, whereas Depp, 58, listened in from the UK as a consequence of “prior commitments,” based on his reps.
Depp was looking for $50 million within the go well with during which he claimed that, regardless of not naming him within the op-ed, Heard’s piece broken his status and profession as a result of the merchandise referred to the time period two years earlier when she filed for divorce and a restraining order.
Depp has vehemently denied all claims of abuse since Heard, 36, first made her accusations. Heard subsequently countersued Depp for $100 million claiming he used trolls and pretend social media accounts in a “smear marketing campaign” to break her life.
Each Heard and Depp took the stand to testify to their experiences of their risky marriage, with heard claiming the “Edward Scissorhands” star had beaten and threatened to kill her when he abused medication and alcohol. She additionally accused Depp of succumbing to suits of jealousy, notably over her interactions along with her former co-star James Franco, and calling her a “slut.”
The trial grew to become a large spectacle because it performed out over six weeks, with celebrities taking sides and the world tuning in to search for extra viral moments reminiscent of when Depp laughed throughout a dialogue about his uncovered penis.
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“I feel I’d’ve remembered seeing Mr. Depp’s penis,” quipped Depp’s British bodyguard, decreasing Depp and others to guffaws.
The alleged peeing incident is what is claimed to have prompted a combat between the pair that resulted in a part of Depp’s finger being severed.
Depp’s authorized crew blasted Heard’s testimony because the “efficiency of her life,” which prompted Heard’s crew to reply saying Depp’s “defamation declare is falling aside so quickly that his counsel are turning from prosecutor to persecutor.”
In her closing statement, Depp’s lawyer referred to as Heard the “abuser” within the relationship and claimed she made up the abuse allegations as a result of she’s a “deeply troubled particular person” determined for consideration.
Heard’s legal professionals closed out subsequent, with Ben Rottenborn telling the jury Friday that “If Amber was abused by Mr. Depp even one time, then she wins.
“And we’re not simply speaking about bodily abuse,” he added. It additionally included “emotional abuse, psychological abuse, monetary abuse, sexual abuse.”
