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Closing arguments underway in Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial

 


Final arguments underway in johnny depp-amber heard trial

heard lawyer details allegations of abuse

12:20 p. M. Protection pauses as phones go off at some point of the court

12:03 p. M. Heard lawyer says depp group is ‘sufferer blaming’

eleven:44 a. M. Heard attorney invokes the primary modification

eleven:33 a. M. Heard attorney’s remaining: ‘think about the message’ depp is sending

11:18 a. M. As depp remaining ends, lawyer tells jury: ‘only you’ can repair depp’s call

eleven:04 a. M. Depp legal professional: depp became ‘canceled’ by heard accusations, now not hollywood

10:forty three a. M. Depp legal professional says there aren't any clinical statistics from heard abuse claims

10:20 a. M. Depp lawyer remembers witness testimony, says heard attempted to ‘damage’ depp

nine:fifty six a. M. Depp lawyer argues it doesn’t be counted that op-ed didn’t point out depp by using name

nine:forty six a. M. Depp lawyer’s closing: ‘we ask you to offer mr. Depp his existence lower back’

9:37 a. M. Choose penney azcarate says juror names will stay private for a yr

9:thirteen a. M. Johnny depp arrives to deafening screams

nine:10 a. M. Why is the trial in virginia? Nine:00 a. M. How did this start? 8:forty five a. M. Final arguments in johnny depp's case in opposition to amber heard

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the jury in johnny depp and amber heard’s defamation trial is hearing last arguments on may also 27. (video: reuters)

by means of emily yahr, travis m. Andrews, sonia rao and helena andrews-dyer 

updated may additionally 27, 2022 at 12:20 p. M. Edtpublished may 27, 2022 at eight:30 a. M. Edt


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after six weeks of johnny depp and amber heard’s defamation trial, the jury is now hearing remaining arguments. Depp, 58, is suing heard, 36, for $50 million over an op-ed she wrote inside the washington post in 2018 wherein she cited herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. (depp has denied all allegations of abuse.) heard countersued depp for $one hundred million after the actor’s legal professional adam waldman known as her accusations a hoax. The jury, composed of 7 human beings, is expected to get the case via friday afternoon and have to come to a unanimous selection for a verdict. They'll be figuring out depp’s declare and heard’s counterclaim at the equal time. Comply with alongside for stay updates. Extra at the depp-heard trial

heard returns to face as case wraps; closing arguments start friday

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‘she’s someone’: amber heard’s supporters endure insults, mockery

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kate moss, johnny depp testify as trial winds down

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heard lawyer info allegations of abuse

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ben rottenborn continued to strain that the jury does now not want to accept as true with that depp was abusive, most effective that he failed at some point of the trial to show he never abused her even as soon as. “it’s now not approximately who’s the higher spouse,” he said. “it’s now not approximately whether you observed ms. Heard can also have been abusive to mr. Depp.”


“in case you suppose they were each abusive to every different … then amber wins,” he brought. He exact the various allegations of abuse heard delivered towards depp, starting by means of reminding the jury of texts from depp to actor paul bettany in which depp wrote “let’s burn amber” and “let’s drown her before we burn her,” along with different specific messages wherein he insulted her and promised violence. He also played audio in which depp referred to heard as a “f---ing c---,” and the video heard shot wherein depp slams cabinet doors, breaking them, and pours a massive glass of wine. A former tmz employee formerly testified that the outlet can handiest achieve a copyrighted video and submit it quickly if the video got here from the direct source. The employee testified that they were capable of post the video of depp destroying the shelves in 15 minutes, but rottenborn said heard was on a flight throughout that time. Rottenborn also presented pix of a seemingly exceeded out depp, and diverse messages from depp to his pals in which he writes that he wishes to stop consuming. He acknowledged testimony that depp held a teacup yorkie out of the window of a shifting automobile whilst howling. “that’s abuse,” he said. He reminded the jury of hicksville, a luxury trailer park wherein depp allegedly carried out a forceful cavity seek on heard before trashing a trailer; of a flight to moscow, during which heard stated he hit her and threatened to interrupt the flight attendant’s wrist; and of the incident in australia in which she said he sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle. He also addressed depp’s infamous severed finger, which came about for the duration of that 2015 combat in australia. Depp claims heard injured him via throwing a vodka bottle at him; the defense suggests he injured himself. Rottenborn said it doesn’t rely: “amber should have chopped it off with an ax, and it has nothing to do with whether or not or no longer mr. Depp abused her.”



protection pauses as phones go off throughout the court

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amber heard’s lawyer ben rottenborn paused his delivery of the defense’s closing arguments as phones for the duration of the court started to pontificate. Judge penney azcarate stated there “seems to be an amber alert” and the telephones ultimately quieted, and then rottenborn persisted. There are currently extreme thunderstorm and twister warnings inside the fairfax county place. Heard legal professional says depp group is ‘sufferer blaming’

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rottenborn addressed depp’s legal crew’s argument that the actress’s claims of abuse had been suspect because she in no way sought scientific treatment or spoke out about them publicly before the trial.


“they need to penalize ms. Heard for no longer speakme approximately that in advance. That’s ridiculous and it’s insulting and it’s sufferer blaming at its maximum disgusting,” rottenborn said. The effect of amber heard's testimony

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johnny depp's defamation trial towards ex-spouse amber heard ended on can also 27 after six weeks. (video: allie caren/the washington post)

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heard attorney invokes the first change

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in ultimate arguments, heard’s lawyer ben rottenborn invoked the first modification, telling the jury that “you cannot simultaneously defend and uphold the first amendment and find in choose of johnny depp.”


he stated that at some point of the case it would have been “doubtful” what, precisely, the jury is here to decide: that the op-ed on the middle of the trial is ready depp, is false and purposely defamatory. He informed the jury that they do now not have determine if depp committed abuse to discover in want of heard. “the motive of the item changed into to sell legislative measures designed to protect human beings of abuse,” he stated.


“we’re not going for walks from the truth that once she discussed becoming a public sufferer representing domestic abuse, amber became speaking of her enjoy reporting domestic abuse towards johnny depp,” rottenborn stated. “however that doesn’t make the thing, or the statements, approximately johnny depp.”


he mentioned that the op-ed doesn’t truly describe any of the alleged abusive acts that heard testified to for the duration of the trial. Rather, it targeted on her “studies after johnny depp.” “this isn’t successful piece on johnny depp,” he concluded. Rottenborn additionally talked about that heard did no longer write the headline of the online amber heard: i spoke up in opposition to sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to trade.”


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heard lawyer’s remaining: ‘consider the message’ depp is sending

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ben rottenborn, one of heard’s lawyers, started by means of asking the jury to “reflect onconsideration on the message that mr. Depp and his attorneys are sending to amber, and by extension, every victim of home abuse everywhere: if you didn’t take pix, it didn’t occur. If you did take photographs, they’re faux. In case you didn’t inform your buddies, you’re mendacity. In case you did tell your pals, they’re a part of the hoax.”



as depp final ends, legal professional tells jury: ‘handiest you’ can repair depp’s call

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as ben bite started out to wind down the last arguments, he brought the jury’s attention especially to the 3 elements of the op-ed that depp said defamed him:


1) the headline, which heard said she did now not write however amber heard: i spoke up in opposition to sexual violence — and confronted our tradition’s wrath. That has to alternate.”


2) “then two years in the past, i have become a public figure representing home abuse, and that i felt the overall force of our subculture’s wrath for girls who communicate out.”


three) “i had the rare vantage point of seeing, in actual time, how institutions defend guys accused of abuse.”


chunk reiterated that although depp changed into now not named, “every person knew precisely who and what ms. Heard was speakme approximately.” he delivered up the testimony from the aclu general recommend, who stated that the business enterprise drafted the piece and he believed that heard was referencing depp. Chew stated that heard first claimed that the op-ed wasn’t about depp, but then stated it wasn’t “just” approximately depp.


“she lies all of the time,” chunk introduced, and said the actress was buying and selling on her allegations of abuse at a time while she changed into starring in her largest position (“aquaman,” which came out the identical week as the op-ed) and took on the “role of an entire life” as a “survivor of vicious abuse,” making depp the villain. As he closed, chunk said that studios won’t lease a film superstar who has been accused of abuse. He took the jury via their guidance paperwork, asking them to present depp economic repayment for the “pain and humiliation inflicted through ms. Heard’s defamation.” but bite stated it’s also no longer about cash, and that depp desires to repair his call and legacy for himself and his children. “only you, girls and gentleman, can try this for him.”



depp attorney: depp changed into ‘canceled’ by heard accusations, not hollywood

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as vasquez’s part of the remaining arguments concluded, she reminded the jury of depp’s long listing of witnesses and said the “overwhelming weight of proof” shows that the story of abuse that heard instructed is not correct. As an alternative, she stated, it was “false, defamatory and brought about irreparable harm.”


another lawyer, ben chunk, took on the challenge of speaking approximately depp’s backstory and his lifestyles: he reiterated the actor grew up in an abusive family, and said there had been echoes of that during his relationship with heard — finding love with someone who hurt him. “no lady ever before amber heard ever claimed that depp raised a hand to her in fifty eight years, and no other girl since ms. Heard made that false declare again on may additionally 27, 2016, and repeated it and in her 2018 op-ed, has any girl come forward because.”


there has been a short from side to side with heard’s lawyer — who objected when bite raised the testimony from depp’s ex-girlfriend kate moss, who stated that depp didn’t push her down the steps as rumored — and then chew endured to mention how depp “does now not need to have his existence and legacy destroyed with the aid of a vicious lie.”


chunk addressed depp’s “properly-seemed” recognition in hollywood and said that many individuals who cherished his films growing up will now by no means have a look at him the identical manner due to the fact they agree with he beat a woman, which is “the worst component you could say about a person.”


chew admitted that depp has said he does use pills and alcohol, and is known for being chronically past due to set. However he argued that had nothing to do with why he misplaced roles. Depp wasn’t “canceled by using hollywood,” he stated, but because of heard’s allegations. Depp legal professional says there aren't any clinical facts from heard abuse claims

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with the aid of emily yahr10:20 a. M. Link copied

vasquez introduced up a topic that has come up regularly at some stage in the trial: heard’s look on a communicate display throughout which she stated she donated her $7 million divorce agreement from depp to the yankee civil liberties union and the youngsters’s medical institution los angeles. The attorney reminded all of us that heard has no longer donated the full amount, which she blames on depp suing her. The lawyer referenced heard’s testimony in which she said that depp repeatedly assaulted her. “the proof does no longer bear that out,” vasquez stated, including that heard “informed you what you had to pay attention” so human beings would believe depp is an “abuser and a rapist.”


vasquez said there are not any clinical information from the abuse that heard claims, and again asked why, if heard was so afraid that depp would get drunk and excessive and beat her, she as soon as gave him an engraved knife as a gift. She delivered up more than one incidents wherein heard said depp changed into physically violent, and contrasted them with photos displaying heard at events where injuries have been now not visible. In one picture in which injuries had been visible, vasquez requested in the event that they have been sincerely “consistent” with heard’s description of a brutal assault. Rather, vasquez stated, they have been extra consistent with depp’s version of occasions; he said they bumped heads as he attempted to preserve her from attacking him. She reminded the jury of the infamous severed finger incident: depp stated that heard threw a vodka bottle at him and reduce off his finger, and heard said that a “drug-fueled” depp reduce off his own finger and dragged her thru glass earlier than sexually assaulting her with a liquor bottle. Vasquez said heard did not are trying to find scientific treatment after this alleged assault, and that the actress become the real “monster” in that residence. Vasquez additionally said that heard’s sister, whitney, is the simplest witness who backs up heard’s version of activities. They lawyer once more known as heard a liar: “both she’s a victim of really bad abuse or she’s a woman who's inclined to say anything.”



depp legal professional recalls witness testimony, says heard tried to ‘wreck’ depp

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vasquez reminded the jury approximately witnesses, consisting of: heard’s former high-quality buddy rocky pennington, who stated heard once hit her; beverly leonard, an airport respectable who testified she noticed heard fight with a partner; and depp’s security group, who said they saw heard end up physical with depp. She played a couple of audio recordings, consisting of the only the jury has heard a couple of times, where heard said she became “hitting,” now not “punching” depp. Vasquez delivered up shannon curry, the psychologist who stated heard confirmed signs and symptoms of borderline persona ailment and had a deep fear of abandonment by depp. The legal professional stated that as a lot as heard and her legal professionals have tried to make the case about depp’s language (they have got showed many vulgar and explicit texts), there isn't any audio in which depp says he was bodily with heard, and he or she become no longer heard accusing him of sexual assault. Vasquez stated depp wanted the divorce in may additionally 2016, which enraged heard. “she didn’t just need a divorce. She desired to spoil him,” she said. Depp attorney argues it doesn’t be counted that op-ed didn’t point out depp via name

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camille vasquez told the jury that amber heard’s restraining order in may additionally 2016 changed into based on a false file of domestic abuse, and said heard tipped off paparazzi in order that they could be waiting to get a photo of her face. Vasquez said a darkish mark “mysteriously” seemed six days later. “it was a lie,” she said. She delivered up the op-ed and said that heard “presented herself to the arena” as a sufferer, and the headline mentioned sexual violence, some thing she had by no means accused johnny depp of earlier than. She stated at the same time as heard’s prison crew has reiterated that heard in no way mentioned depp by call within the piece, she used the word “ years ago,” so human beings could recollect “the image of a battered lady.” the jury noticed a humans magazine cowl from 2016 providing heard with a bruised face. Vasquez said that even though heard tried to paint depp because the villain (“in the full swing of the #metoo movement”) in the 2018 piece, “there may be an abuser in this court and it’s not mr. Depp.” she referenced testimony from witnesses who stated they noticed heard hit depp, and claw at him to maintain from leaving. Heard “never thought depp might tell you and the world that he become a real sufferer of home abuse.”


depp legal professional’s closing: ‘we ask you to give mr. Depp his life back’

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camille vasquez, one in all johnny depp’s legal professionals, started out by way of noting that on may 27, 2016, heard filed a restraining order in opposition to depp at a los angeles courthouse, and six years later on the same date, the trial is coming to an end. “we ask you to give mr. Depp his existence returned by means of telling the world that mr. Depp isn't the abuser that ms. Heard said he is, and preserve ms. Heard chargeable for her lies.”


“what's at stake in this trial is a man’s proper name,” she stated. “even greater than that, what's at stake is a person’s lifestyles.”


judge penney azcarate says juror names will continue to be private for a 12 months

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choose penney azcarate announced that the names of the jurors within the johnny depp-amber heard trial could be sealed for a yr, given the high-profile nature of the case. She additionally advised the jury to not display bias, use common feel and to do not forget all testimony. “you have to now not base your verdict in any way on sympathy,” she delivered. Johnny depp arrives to deafening screams

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fans cheer as actor johnny depp arrives on the fairfax county circuit courthouse. Lovers cheer as actor johnny depp arrives at the fairfax county circuit courthouse. (jabin botsford/the washington submit)

masses of human beings amassed at the back of the fairfax county courthouse to get a sighting of johnny depp on what could be his final day in court. The screams from his lovers, even though always loud, were deafening. People chanted “johnny! Johnny!” over a megaphone. Some have been dressed as pirates; one couple brought their collies, dressed as “depp’s criminal team.”


puppies out of doors of the fairfax county courthouse wherein the johnny depp-amber heard trial is being held wear ties and “depp prison team” clothes. (emily yahr/the washington put up)

dogs out of doors of the fairfax county courthouse where the johnny depp-amber heard trial is being held put on ties and “depp legal crew” clothing. (emily yahr/the washington post)

amongst all of the depp lovers,  amber heard supporters stood with symptoms. An amber heard supporter stands amid a throng of johnny depp fanatics. An amber heard supporter stands amid a throng of johnny depp enthusiasts. (jabin botsford/the washington put up)

why is the trial in virginia? Return to menu

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depp’s legal professionals wrote within the grievance that they filed in fairfax county due to the fact the post — which is not a defendant in the healthy — is printed at a plant in springfield, and its online servers are in virginia; the print edition additionally has a huge circulation inside the state. (heard’s attorneys argued for the trial to take location in l. A., in which she and depp lived.)


in march, depp’s legal professionals argued in opposition to heard using virginia’s anti-slapp (strategic lawsuit in opposition to public participation) law, which offers defendants immunity from frivolous complaints after they talk out about matters of public hobby which might be included underneath unfastened speech. Depp’s lawyers said the law shouldn’t involve non-public matters like the one between heard and depp. A judge ruled towards depp’s side, pronouncing that heard’s op-ed changed into about domestic violence, which is an issue of public interest, and he or she can use that argument of immunity with the jury. In 2020, the post’s justin jouvenal pronounced that the virginia legislature exceeded bills aimed to tighten its anti-defamation legal guidelines, in response to depp’s and different excessive-profile lawsuits. Jouvenal wrote that unfastened speech advocates had been concerned that the state had end up “a magnet for dubious litigation aimed at punishing critics and blunting competitive media coverage on subjects of public situation.”


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depp and heard met in 2009 whilst filming the movie “the rum diary”; they started out courting round early 2012 and got married three years later. In may 2016, l. A. Police were known as to a domestic dispute at depp’s l. A. Domestic, however determined there was no proof of a criminal offense. Days later, heard filed for divorce (bringing up irreconcilable differences) and a restraining order, accusing depp of repeated home violence. She turned into granted a transient restraining order, whilst depp’s representatives vehemently denied all allegations of abuse. The to and fro played out publicly for weeks, as heard said in court documents that “johnny has been verbally and bodily abusive to me” for their whole dating, whilst depp’s team said heard changed into “attempting to at ease a untimely economic decision by alleging abuse.”


that august, they settled their divorce for $7 million right earlier than a listening to on the restraining order became scheduled to begin. Heard dropped the restraining order, and he or she and depp released a joint declaration: “our relationship become intensely passionate and at times risky, but usually sure by using love. Neither birthday party has made false accusations for monetary benefit. There was in no way any rationale of bodily or emotional harm.”


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in december 2018, heard wrote an op-ed that was published within the put up with the headline, “amber heard: i spoke up towards sexual violence — and confronted our tradition’s wrath. That has to trade.”


heard urged support for ladies who come ahead as victims of violence, and wrote that “ years in the past, i became a public determine representing home abuse, and that i felt the full force of our subculture’s wrath for girls who communicate out. … i had the uncommon vantage factor of seeing, in real time, how establishments protect men accused of abuse.” she did no longer mention depp by way of name. About 3 months later, depp filed a defamation lawsuit requesting $50 million in damages, saying that the piece hurt his profession and fee him film roles and “incalculably (and right away) damaged his recognition as a public parent.”

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