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After six weeks of legally battling each other, actors and ex-spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are lastly approaching the top of their televised trial proceedings.
Depp, 58, sued Heard, 36, for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Courtroom over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Submit describing herself as “a public determine representing home abuse.”
His legal professionals say he was defamed by the article despite the fact that it by no means talked about his identify.
Actor Johnny Depp takes a break throughout his trial at a Fairfax County Courthouse on Could 27, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia.
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Closing statements are being offered by every of their legal professionals in courtroom Friday, with a jury verdict to observe doubtless within the coming days.
As trial proceedings started, Choose Penney Azcarate gave the seven jury members many prolonged directions on learn how to resolve a verdict, each in Depp’s USD$50-million defamation declare and Heard’s $100-million counterclaim.
One in all Depp’s legal professionals, Camille Vasquez, offered closing argument first. She informed the jury that Heard had “falsely informed the world she was a sufferer of home violence by the hands of Mr. Depp.”
Actor Amber Heard speaks along with her authorized workforce within the courtroom on the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on Could 27, 2022.
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“What’s at stake on this trial is a person’s good identify,” Vasquez mentioned, including Depp’s life can be at stake within the trial.
Johnny Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez speaks throughout closing arguments within the Depp v. Heard trial on the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on Could 27, 2022.
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“There may be an abuser on this courtroom, however it isn’t Mr. Depp,” Vasquez mentioned, claiming as an alternative Heard was the abuser, and Depp the sufferer.
Vasquez known as Heard “extremely aggressive, violent and merciless.” She additionally insisted Depp skilled “persistent and aggressive” abuse by the hands of his ex-wife.
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A number of audio clips had been once more performed in courtroom, typically that includes arguments between the previous couple.
Vasquez informed the jury Heard didn’t simply need a divorce from Depp in 2016, she needed to destroy him.
One other lawyer on Depp’s workforce, Benjamin Chew, additionally delivered closing statements to the jury.
Actor Johnny Depp’s lawyer Benjamin Chew provides closing arguments on the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on Could 27, 2022.
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“You’ve gotten now come to know the actual Amber Heard: scary,” he mentioned.
“That is Me Too, with none Me Too,” Chew informed the jury.
Chew, whereas claiming Heard was constantly untruthful in her testimony, mentioned that Depp “didn’t and doesn’t need to have his life, his legacy, destroyed by some lie.”
In abstract, Chew requested the jury to present Depp his life, profession and repute again by awarding a verdict in his favour.
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Folks cheer as actor Johnny Depp arrives for trial at a Fairfax County Courthouse on Could 27, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia.
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Subsequent, one in every of Heard’s legal professionals, Ben Rottenborn, delivered closing statements on her behalf. He argued Depp and his workforce have achieved every little thing of their energy to destroy Heard’s repute and profession.
Rottenborn informed the jury simply because Depp had tried to persuade the general public Heard’s Washington Submit article is about him, doesn’t imply it’s. He argued as an alternative that nice care was taken in writing the article to make sure the textual content didn’t level to Depp, claiming somewhat it was supposed to reclaim her story.
“This isn’t successful piece on Johnny Depp,” he mentioned.
He known as Depp’s claims towards Heard “disgusting” and “sufferer blaming.”
“This entire case is about blaming Amber Heard for issues she didn’t do, as a result of that’s what Mr. Depp does,” Rottenborn mentioned.
Actor Amber Heards lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn speaks throughout closing arguments on the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on Could 27, 2022.
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“If Amber was abused by Mr. Depp even one time, then she wins,” he informed the jury, reminding the courtroom that bodily, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse are additionally worthy of a verdict in her favour.
“It’s not about who’s the higher partner. It’s not about whether or not you assume Amber was additionally abusive to Mr. Depp,” he informed the jury.
“They’re making an attempt to trick you into considering Amber must be good so as to win,” he mentioned.
A number of graphic textual content messages despatched by Depp to numerous individuals (together with Marvel star Paul Bettany) had been then proven once more in courtroom, together with messages the place Depp says he want to drown, burn and commit necrophilia on Heard’s corpse.
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Heard’s legal professionals once more claimed Depp has extreme drug and alcohol abuse points. Rottenborn offered the courtroom photographs, audio and textual content messages, all referencing Depp’s alleged addictions. As soon as extra, he claimed Depp turned a “monster” when below the affect.
Depp has maintained he has by no means been hooked on medicine or alcohol (except Roxicodone).
“Mr. Depp can merely not show to you that he by no means abused Amber,” Rottenborn informed the jury.
Rottenborn maintained that any losses to Depp’s profession or repute weren’t brought on by Heard and her op-ed, however somewhat Depp’s personal actions.
Lastly, one other of Heard’s legal professionals, Elaine Bredehoft, spoke to the jury about Heard’s $100-million counterclaim towards Depp.
“We’re asking you to lastly maintain this man accountable,” Bredehoft requested of the jury, including they need to “totally and pretty compensate Amber for what he’s achieved.”
Actor Amber Heards lawyer Elaine Bredehoft speaks throughout closing arguments on the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on Could 27, 2022.
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“What would Amber Heard’s motive be for making this a hoax? For making this up?” Bredehoft questioned aloud.
She went on to assert Amber was amicable in her divorce from Depp and subsequent settlement, and didn’t need his cash or to destroy his repute.
In her ultimate arguments, Vasquez repeatedly informed the jury that Heard has been mendacity all the trial and known as it “the efficiency of a lifetime.”
“She has come too far, she will be able to’t again down,” Vasquez mentioned. “She’s lied too many instances to too many individuals.”
She additionally accused Heard of fixing her story over time.
“Mr. Depp owns his mistake… however on this trial Ms. Heard has been confronted along with her lies and the harm she has brought about,” Vasquez mentioned. “And she or he can not take any accountability for what she has achieved.”
She additionally argued that Depp’s use of violent and derogatory language just isn’t proof that he abused his ex-wife.
“Mr. Depp owns textual content messages, he acknowledges that he mentioned these issues and mentioned issues he shouldn’t have,” Vasquez mentioned. “However utilizing dangerous language and vibrant humour doesn’t imply that you’re a violent abuser.”
In his rebuttal, Heard’s lawyer responded to Vasquez’s argument that Heard’s witnesses, except her sister, didn’t present up for her.
“They are saying nobody confirmed up for her,” Rottenborn mentioned. “Nobody confirmed up for her however then they are saying that these individuals aren’t pals anymore. In the event that they’re not pals anymore, why would they be doing — what (Depp’s legal professionals) recommend — is mendacity for her? Then why would they be corroborating every little thing she says?”
Depp’s promise to carry Heard “international humiliation” has performed out, Rottenborn mentioned, and as soon as Depp’s former lawyer Adam Waldman turned concerned, and accused Heard of making an “abuse hoax” in a Day by day Mail article in 2020, that promise became a “forest hearth.”
“Give Amber Heard her voice again,” Rottenborn informed the jury. “Give Amber Heard her life again.”
The jury will now deliberate the case and return their verdict. A timeline for the decision just isn’t but recognized.
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Earlier this week, each Depp and Heard returned to the stand for a second time.
On Wednesday, Depp informed the courtroom that it’s been “insane” listening to Heard’s accusations towards him.
“It’s insane to listen to heinous accusations of violence, sexual violence, that’s she’s attributed to me,” he mentioned. “I don’t assume anybody enjoys having to separate themselves open and inform the reality. However there are occasions when one has to, because it’s gotten uncontrolled.”
Actor Johnny Depp testifies within the courtroom within the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Va., on Wednesday.
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He known as his time in courtroom “ridiculous, humiliating, painful, savage, unimaginably brutal and merciless” in addition to calling every little thing that’s been mentioned about him “false.”
On Thursday, Heard turned emotional as she informed the jury about how this trial and its widespread publicity has affected her.
“I’m harassed, humiliated and threatened each single day,” she mentioned.
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Johnny Depp calls Amber Heard’s allegations ‘insane’ as defamation trial continues
“Folks wish to kill me they usually inform me so on daily basis,” she mentioned, her voice quivering.
Actor Amber Heard testifies throughout the $50-million Depp vs Heard defamation trial on the Fairfax County Circuit Courtroom in Fairfax, Va., on Thursday.
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Heard insisted that whereas she “wouldn’t want this case on my worst enemy,” she has used her platform to supply a voice for home violence victims.
“It’s been agonizing, painful and probably the most humiliating factor I’ve ever needed to undergo,” she mentioned concerning the trial. “I simply need Johnny to go away me alone.”
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