T.ra Johnny Depp and Amber Heard the war in court is still in full swing. In the trial for defamation which opened last week in Fairfax, Virginia, the actor took the stand to have his say and defend himself against the accusations that have been leveled against him in recent months.
Johnny Depp: “I’ve never hit a woman”
“I have never beaten Amber like that nor have I ever beaten a woman in my life”, Johnny said emphasizing that the only purpose is the truth. “You need conflict, you need violence, it erupts out of nowhere. He could start with a slap, with a push, throwing a remote control at my head, it could be a glass of wine in my face: in all these situations my main goal was to withdraw“. And again: «It’s been a difficult six years when one day you are Cinderella and in a micro second you become the Hunchback of Notre Dame ».
His testimony went on for three hours and there were references to the alleged violence suffered by the ex-wife, such as when she would have cut off his finger: “He hit me and I severely injured my hand, blood was coming out of me as from the erupting Vesuvius ».
Johnny Depp shows the middle finger of his right hand, injured during an altercation with his wife in Australia. (Getty Images)
Johnny Depp’s first court defeat
The ongoing trial is just the latest act in a legal battle that began parallel to the decision to end the marriage. THEThe first step was Amber Heardaccusing the ex of domestic violence. Photos of his swollen face had gone around the world, dividing fans and public opinion; to take sides with the actor, all the former historical companions of him, from Vanessa Paradismother of her two children, Lily-Rose and Jack, a Winona Ryder.
Defined “Beater of wives” from The Sun, the actor had not stood by and watched, suing the tabloid for defamation. It was 2018 and two years later the court would have agreed with the magazine, delivering, in fact, a victory also to Heard.
A much debated second round
The one in progress is a real second round, also this time wanted by the actor. Depp got Amber Heard to be tried for defamation. The fault of a article published on Washington Post in which she wrote that she had been a victim of abuse.
“Mr. Depp is gratified by the court’s decision,” said his attorney, Ben Chew, in the aftermath of the Fairfax court decision to institute a trial. At stake, $ 50 million in compensation. Not a small amount, but proportionate to the economic damage that Depp has had from this whole affairfrom the departure from the set of Fantastic Beasts 3 to the elimination of the character of Jack Sparrow from the new chapter of Pirates of the Caribbean: in its place, a piratess, played by Margot Robbie.
Amber Heard in court during ex-husband’s deposition (Getty Images)
Depp-Heard: who will win?
Two weeks into the process, the outcome of the trial couldn’t be more uncertain. For Depp it is an “uphill battle”, exclusively declared to People Daniel Gutenplan, expert in defamation cases. “Defamation is very difficult to prove“, he has declared.
“Heard’s long article does not describe any alleged specific event in detail or specific conduct. He is incredibly general about it. Furthermore, a libel case must be based on facts. It cannot be based on opinion. And this is where many defamation plaintiffs get into trouble ”
Is she the clever one and he a great naive one? Difficult to extricate oneself in such a complex situation. All that remains is to wait for the decision of the judges.
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