Judge Penney Azcarate ordered a final break around noon on Thursday (May 26). Before the grand finale in the defamation trial, she urged the jury to “have a nice, relaxing afternoon and evening.”
Earlier, Depp’s attorney, Camille Vasquez, asked Heard if she was surprised by Kate Moss’ testimony on Wednesday. She answered briefly and succinctly with “No”. It was already clear to her “how many people will come out of the undergrowth to support Johnny.”
Heard’s own mention of Kate Moss was what opened the door for Depp’s lawyers to call the British supermodel to the witness stand. She said at the time that Kate Moss and “the stairs” inevitably came to mind. “Of course I thought so when my abusive husband hit not only me but now my sister as well.” that Mr. Depp pushed Kate Moss down the stairs, you didn’t expect Ms. Moss to say that it never happened, did you?” She finally had to resort to hearsay: “Anyone who’s in their nineties was at it, knew that rumor,” she insisted.
proof completed
The evidence was concluded on Thursday after Heard was allowed to make one last urgent appeal. She just wanted her peace and quiet – and didn’t have to have anything to do with Depp anymore. “I said that a few years ago!” Near the collapse, she described the harsh abuse against her on social media. “People write they want to kill me and put my baby in the microwave.”
The fronts thus remain undiminished hardened. Johnny Depp had previously denied all allegations of abuse by his ex-wife. Listening to Heard’s allegations is “insane”. During a recent interview, he called their allegations “terrible,” “laughable,” “completely brutal,” “cruel,” “humiliating,” and “completely false.”
The closing arguments begin on Friday at 3 p.m. (CET), six weeks after the start of the trial.
Judgment is expected
Judge Azcarate indicated that the jury will then begin their deliberations. You will not give them any deadline for a verdict. The Fairfax Court will rest Saturday through Monday for Memorial Day weekend in the United States. The jury will continue deliberations, if necessary, on Tuesday, May 31.
In a preview, various US media outlets clarified that juries will rule on both Depp’s $50 million defamation lawsuit and Heard’s $100 million counterattack. They may find both guilty, only one party guilty, or both not guilty. It is completely unclear whether and what sum(s) they will award both of them.
Both sides had more than 60 hours to call their own witnesses and to cross-examine witnesses from the other side. Depp and Heard each testified for around four days. Both teams called in numerous character witnesses, experts and people involved in the explosive relationship.
more on the subject
Not only the usually well-informed tabloid New York Post does not want to estimate how long the seven jurors and two deputies will need for their deliberations: “They certainly have a mountain of evidence to work through.”