On April 11, a extremely publicized trial involving actors Johnny Depp, 58, and Amber Heard, 36, began in Fairfax, Virginia. Since then, attorneys for Depp and Heard have offered opening statements and Depp has taken the stand. The trial is predicted to proceed till overdue Might.
Depp, well known for his position within the Pirates of Caribbean franchise, is suing Heard, his ex-wife, for defamation over an opinion piece she wrote for The Washington Submit and is looking for $50 million. Heard may be countersuing for $100 million.
Here is what else you will have to know concerning the trial.
Why is Johnny Depp suing Amber Heard?
Heard is a fashion and actress who starred in 2018’s Aquaman. In December of 2018, she wrote an op-ed for The Washington Submit titled, “I spoke up towards sexual violence — and confronted our tradition’s wrath. That has to switch.” She mentioned within the article that she had develop into “a public determine representing home abuse,” however didn’t point out Depp’s title.
Depp alleges Heard defamed him within the op-ed. All the way through opening statements, Depp attorney Benjamin Bite mentioned Heard’s article obviously refers to Depp, and that Heard’s “false allegations had an important have an effect on on Mr. Depp’s circle of relatives and his skill to paintings.”
Benjamin Rottenborn, a attorney for Heard, mentioned that the First Modification protects what she wrote. “The thing is not about Johnny Depp,” Rottenborn mentioned. “The thing is concerning the social trade for which she is advocating and that the First Modification protects.”
Depp is confronted with proving Heard knowingly made false claims. Heard has filed a countersuit towards Depp, which shall be made up our minds as a part of the trial. She’s claiming Depp defamed her when his former attorney referred to her allegations of abuse as a hoax.
Depp misplaced a defamation case that concerned Heard in 2020. He had sued British tabloid The Solar over a headline calling him a “spouse beater.”
Heard and Depp’s marriage lasted from 2015 to 2016. He filed his present defamation go well with in 2019, a yr after she wrote the op-ed.
What has came about within the trial thus far?
Depp testified within the trial and was once cross-examined through Heard’s criminal staff. All the way through his time at the stand, Depp mentioned that he by no means struck Heard, however that she displayed violence right through their courting. He alleged she threw a vodka bottle at Depp’s hand right through an issue, which bring to a halt part of his heart finger.
All the way through pass exam, Heard’s staff offered textual content messages despatched through Depp. In a single graphic textual content alternate between Depp and actor Paul Bettany, Depp wrote: “Let’s drown her ahead of we burn her.” In courtroom, Depp mentioned the messages have been a shaggy dog story that referred to a Monty Python caricature about burning and drowning witches.
Heard can even testify within the trial. Elon Musk and James Franco are indexed as possible witnesses that may take the stand for Heard, and Bettany is indexed for Depp.
