|
Depp, the 58-year-old "Pirates of the
Caribbean" star, sued ex-wife Heard in Virginia for $50 million
and argued that she defamed him when she called herself "a
public figure representing domestic abuse" in an opinion piece
she wrote.
Heard, 36, countersued for $100 million, saying Depp smeared her
when his lawyer called her accusations a "hoax."
The seven-person jury deliberated for more than two hours on
Friday. They will resume discussions on Tuesday after the U.S.
Memorial Day holiday.
Depp has denied hitting Heard or any woman and said she was the
one who turned violent in their relationship.
"Mr. Depp experienced persistent verbal, physical and emotional
abuse by Ms. Heard," attorney Camille Vasquez said in closing
arguments on Friday.
She said Heard's allegations of abuse by Depp, including a
sexual assault with a liquor bottle, were "wild, over-the-top
and implausible" and had ruined his reputation in Hollywood and
among fans.
"We ask you to give Mr. Depp his life back by telling the world
Mr. Depp is not the abuser Ms. Heard says he is," Vasquez said.
Heard lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn, in his closing argument,
reminded jurors of explicit text messages from Depp to friends
or associates.
In one, Depp called Heard a "filthy whore" and said he wanted
her dead and "would fuck her burnt corpse."
"This is a window into the heart and mind of America's favorite
pirate," Rottenborn said. "This is the real Johnny Depp."
At the center of the legal case is the December 2018 opinion
piece by Heard in the Washington Post, in which she made the
statement about domestic abuse. The article never mentioned Depp
by name, but his lawyer told jurors it was clear that Heard was
referring to him.
Heard's attorneys argued that she had told the truth and that
her comments were covered as free speech under the U.S.
Constitution's First Amendment.
"Your key question to answer is 'does the First Amendment give
Ms. Heard the right to write the words she wrote?" Rottenborn
told the jury. "You cannot simultaneously uphold the First
Amendment and find in favor of Johnny Depp."
Depp and Heard met in 2011 while filming "The Rum Diary" and wed
in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized about two years
later.
Over six weeks of proceedings, jurors have listened to
recordings of the former couple's fights and seen graphic photos
of Depp's bloody finger.
Depp said Heard threw a vodka bottle that cut off the top of his
finger during an argument in 2015. Heard denied injuring Depp's
finger and said Depp sexually assaulted her that night with a
liquor bottle.
The testimony was livestreamed widely on social media, drawing
large audiences to hear details about the couple's troubled
relationship.
Once among Hollywood's biggest stars, Depp said Heard's
allegations cost him "everything." A new "Pirates" movie was put
on hold, and Depp was replaced in the "Fantastic Beasts" film
franchise, a "Harry Potter" spinoff.
Depp lost a libel case less than two years ago against the Sun,
a British tabloid that labeled him a "wife beater." A London
High Court judge ruled that he had repeatedly assaulted Heard.
Depp's lawyers filed the U.S. case in Fairfax County, Virginia,
because the Washington Post is printed there. The newspaper is
not a defendant.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Mark Porter, Jonathan
Oatis and Daniel Wallis)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
