Johnny Depp’s libel trial finally wraps up
28th July 2020: Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife entered a libel trial a few days back, which reached its final stage today.
According to reports from AFP, Johnny Depp’s blockbuster libel lawsuit wraps up on Tuesday after three weeks of graphic testimony. The trial started with the star admitting to years of drug abuse, however, Depp denied beating ex-wife, Amber Heard.
‘The Pirates Of The Caribbean’ actor is suing the publisher and executive editor of Britain’s The Sun tabloid in London’s High Court over a 2018 story calling him a “wife-beater”.
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The 57-year-old actor denied the allegations against him of repeatedly hurting his ex-wife over a period of three-year married life. The marriage with the actress Amber Heard ended after their divorce in 2016.
The Sun’s lawyer called Depp a “Jekyll and Hyde” character who was “controlling and physically abusive towards Ms. Heard”, especially when he was on drugs.
“The defendants have established that many more than one incident of wife-beating took place over the course of the relationship,” defense lawyer Sasha Wass said in her closing submission on Monday.
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Depp’s legal team will make its closing statement on Tuesday.
Some legal experts say Depp’s reputation will have trouble recovering even if The Sun is forced to retract its claim.
“I think the damage is done,” said London PR agent and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski. “Even if he wins, it’s going to be a Pyrrhic victory.”
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The odds favor Depp because England’s strict libel laws put the burden of proof on the media.
That puts one of Britain’s most popular newspapers in danger of having to cover huge court expenses and pay damages in the middle of a media industry crisis made even worse by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Sun’s defeat could also imperil Heard’s Hollywood career.
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“If The Sun wins, Heard will likely be viewed as a brave crusader in the domestic violence and #MeToo arena.” said defamation case lawyer Emily Cox.
“If The Sun loses, Heard could well find herself ostracised by those movements and by Hollywood.”
It may be remembered that the trial started with three days of grueling cross-examinationsn in which Depp admitted only hazily recalling some episodes because he was high and drunk.
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Depp revealed at one stage that he started snorting cocaine to kick his addiction to prescription painkillers.
He argued that he was suffering “uncontrollable spasms” during withdrawal and was in “no physical condition” to hurt Heard in one alleged incident.
Amber Heard accused Depp of throwing bottles at her “like grenades” and striking her in the face with a phone.
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“Some incidents were so severe that I was afraid he was going to kill me, either intentionally or just by losing control and going too far,” she said in a witness statement.
“He explicitly threatened to kill me many times, especially later in our relationship.”
Yet both Heard and Depp acknowledged loving each other deeply on their good days. Depp also revealed that Heard did her best trying to get him off drugs in 2014.
Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more updates!
