Jury verdict awaited in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case
Highlight
- A seven-person civil jury hears arguments in the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard case
- Depp has sued Heard for USD 50 million, accusing him of defaming him with a 2018 op-ed he wrote.
- Heard testified that Depp physically or sexually assaulted her more than a dozen times
A jury ended a second day of deliberations Tuesday without reaching a decision in defamation claims over their unstable and unhappy marriage of Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard.
A seven-person civil jury heard the closing arguments on Friday and deliberated for nearly two hours before leaving for the long Memorial Day weekend. The jurors then deliberated for another seven hours on Tuesday. They are due to resume deliberations Wednesday in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
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Depp has sued Heard for $50 million, accusing him of defaming her with a 2018 op-ed she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” Heard filed a $100 million counterclaim against the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star after his attorney denied his allegations. They are accusing each other of ruining their careers.
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Testimony during the six-week trial showed vague details about their short marriage. Heard testified that Depp physically or sexually assaulted her more than a dozen times. During his testimony, Depp testified that he never killed Heard, that he had fabricated allegations of abuse, and that he had physically assaulted her several times.
During the closing arguments, both sides told the jury that a verdict in their favor would give their clients their lives back.
On Tuesday, Depp’s lawyers asked Judge Penny Azkart to instruct the jury to disregard a portion of the closing argument given by Heard’s attorney.
In their written motion, Depp’s lawyers said that Heard’s attorney told the jury that her decision in the case would send a message to “every victim of domestic abuse everywhere.” Heard attorney Benjamin Rottenborn told the jury that a verdict against Heard “sends a message that whatever you do as a victim of abuse, you will always have to do more.”
“No matter how honest you are about your flaws and your shortcomings in the relationship, you have to be perfect for people to believe in you. Don’t send that message,” Rottenborn said.
Depp’s lawyers argued that Rottenborn’s argument unfairly asked the jury to focus on a larger societal purpose than the case they are being asked to decide.
Depp’s lawyers argued, “Such an argument by Ms. Heard’s attorney unreasonably invites the jury to decide the case ‘on the basis of passion and prejudice’ and a specific jury is required to correct this unfairness.” Instructions required.”
The judge told Depp’s lawyers in court that she would not consider the motion because the matter is now in the hands of a jury.
A public relations firm for Hurd did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on the proposal.