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“Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp gained a defamation swimsuit on Wednesday towards his former spouse Amber Heard after a US jury discovered that she had defamed Depp in saying that he had abused her over the course of their relationship.
The decision capped a bitterly-fought six-week trial driving on lurid claims and counterclaims of between the Hollywood celebrities.
The seven-member jury in Virginia awarded the 58-year-old actor $15 million in damages after discovering {that a} 2018 article penned by Heard on her expertise of “sexual violence” was defamatory to Depp.
Heard, her eyes downcast all through, listened impassively as the decision was learn out in Fairfax courtroom, close to the US capital – and later declared herself “heartbroken” and disillusioned “past phrases” by the result.
Depp, who was following the proceedings from the UK, in the meantime posted on Instagram that the jury “gave me my life again.”
Within the op-ed for The Washington Publish, Heard had described herself as a “public determine representing home abuse” — and though she didn’t identify Depp within the piece, he sued her for implying he was an abuser, looking for $50 million in damages.
The 36-year-old Heard, who had a starring function in “Aquaman,” countersued for $100 million, saying she was defamed by statements made by Depp’s lawyer, Adam Waldman, who informed the Each day Mail her abuse claims have been a “hoax.”
The jury agreed that Heard was defamed by these statements, and in addition awarded her damages – however at a considerably decrease quantity, $2 million.
Reacting to the decision, Heard referred to as it a “setback” for girls.
“The frustration I really feel right now is past phrases. I am 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,” she stated in a press release.
“I am much more disillusioned with what this verdict means for different girls. It’s a setback… It units again the concept violence towards girls is to be taken significantly,” she stated.
A number of dozen onlookers and Depp supporters have been posted outdoors for the decision, one man sporting a “Jack Sparrow” pirate hat and a lady with a placard studying: “It doesn’t matter what occurs right now, Johnny, you’re a winner!!! And the entire phrase is aware of the TRUTH!!!”
Dozens of witnesses testified in the course of the trial, together with bodyguards, Hollywood executives, brokers, leisure business consultants, medical doctors, buddies and family.
Depp and Heard every spent days on the witness stand in the course of the televised trial, which was attended by a whole bunch of followers of the “Pirates” star and accompanied by a #JusticeForJohnnyDepp marketing campaign on social media.
Video and audio recordings of heated, profanity-laced arguments between the couple have been performed for the jury, which was additionally proven pictures of accidents allegedly suffered by Heard throughout their risky relationship.
Depp testified that it was Heard who was incessantly violent and stated it has been “brutal” to take heed to “outlandish” accusations of home abuse made towards him.
Heard, who was married to Depp from 2015 to 2017, obtained a restraining order towards him in Could 2016, citing home violence.
Depp, a three-time Oscar nominee, filed a libel swimsuit in London towards the British tabloid The Solar for calling him a “wife-beater.” He misplaced that case in November 2020.
Either side have claimed harm to their Hollywood careers. – AFP
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