After a six-week trial, a civilian jury in Virginia is deliberating on the defamation charges Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber felt. The trial included horrific testimony with explicit details about the short and unstable marriage of the movie stars. But what is the case really about? And what will the jury have to decide?

Depp filed a $ 50 million libel suit against Heard, claiming that an editorial she wrote, published in 2018 in Washington PostIt damaged his reputation and damaged his career. In the article, Heard described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse”.

He did not mention Depp by name, but his lawyers said it was clear he was referring to the plaintiff, as she had publicly accused him of domestic violence during the 2016 divorce proceedings. Heard’s lawyers said most of the article focused on public policy on domestic violence and who had the right granted by freedom of expression to express an opinion on that matter. They also claim that Depp actually abused Heard.

During the trial, Heard outlined more than a dozen specific cases in which she claims that Depp abused her, including his accusation of sexually assaulting her with a bottle of liquor in a fit of alcohol-fueled rage. Depp has denied any physical or sexual abuse and claims that Heard made up her claims to destroy her reputation. He also claimed that she physically attacked him on multiple occasions.

jury time

The seven-member jury must decide whether two excerpts from the article and the title are defamatory. The jury verdict form provides them with instructions on how to determine it, including asking them if the statements were about Depp, were false, and had a defamatory implication on him.

Because Depp is a public figure, Heard can only be found guilty of libel if the jury decides she acted with “real evil,” meaning she knew what she wrote was false or that she acted with reckless disregard for the people. Heard’s attorneys. jury that Depp’s libel charge must fail if Heard has suffered a single incident of abuse.

Heard filed a $ 100 million lawsuit against Depp after the actor’s former attorney called his allegations a hoax. The counterclaim received less attention during the trial, but Heard’s attorney told the jury that he provides him with an avenue to compensate Heard for the abuses Depp inflicted on her by orchestrating a smear campaign after they broke up.

The jury verdict form asks the jury to decide whether Depp’s former attorney, acting as Depp’s agent, made or published three statements involving Heard, which were false, and which were seen by anyone other than Heard. The jury must also decide whether Depp’s attorney made the statements with genuine malice.

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