FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)-Jurors said Wednesday they reached verdict in Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, confirming that Depp repeatedly assaulted her physically and sexually.
The jury also ruled in favor of the $ 100 million counterclaim filed against Depp. Herd said he was insulted when Depp’s lawyer called his abuse allegations false.
The verdicts are expected to be read in a Virginia court on Wednesday at 3pm. The seven -member civil jury must make a unanimous decision on each verdict. They argued for about 12 hours over three days.
Depp sued his ex -wife for $ 50 million and charged her with libel in a 2018 article describing himself as a “public figure representing domestic violence.” Herd filed a $ 100 million lawsuit against the Pirates of the Caribbean star after his lawyer called his allegations false. Everyone is accusing the other of ruining a career.
Testimony from the six -week trial included gruesome details of their brief and unstable marriage. Herd showed that Depp physically or sexually assaulted him more than a dozen times. Depp said he would never slap Herd, that he made allegations of violence and that he was the one who physically assaulted him repeatedly.
Jurors must decide both claims depending on whether there are “The Real Evil” statements that mean they know what they are saying is wrong, or that they are acting recklessly disregarding the truth.
In closing remarks, both sides told the jury that the verdict in their favor would revive their clients.
Source: Huffpost
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