As the jury deliberates in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation case, Depp’s team motioned to have a closing arguments comment from Heard’s lawyer disregarded — but the judge declined the attempt.
On Friday, both sidesoffered their closing argumentsafter resting their cases. Judge Penney Azcarate instructed the jury to not take closing statements as hard evidence and instead rely on what was brought forth as evidence and testimony in the six-week trial.
Depp’s attorney Camille Vasquez told the jury they have to “either believe all of it, or none of it” when it comes to 36-year-old Heard’s allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault lodged against ex-husband Depp, 58. The lawyer added, “Either she’s a victim of truly horrific abuse or she’s a woman who’s willing to say absolutely anything.”
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When Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn got his turn, he called out Vasquez for trying to discredit Heard for not having medical records or photographic proof to document every instance of alleged abuse, while also dismissing bruise photos she did provide as being fabricated.
“Ruling against Amber here sends a message that no matter what you do as an abuse victim, you aways have to do more. No matter what you document, you always have to document more,” Rottenborn told the jury. “No matter whom you tell, you always have to tell more people. No mater how honest you are about your own imperfections and your own shortcomings in a relationship, you have to be perfect in order for people to believe you. Don’t send that message. That’s what [Depp] wants you to send.”
STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty
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According toInsider, Judge Azcarate declined to intervene with the seven-person jury, who began deliberations Friday afternoon. She told Depp’s attorney Benjamin Chew, “The jury has the case now, and it’s out of my hands.”
Last week, when Depp returned to the witness stand one final time, the actorvehemently denied Heard’s “insane” allegations, which he said have “gotten out of control.”
“No human being is perfect, certainly not. None of us. But I have never in my lifecommitted sexual battery, physical abuse, all these outlandish, outrageous stories of me committing these things and living with it for six years and waiting to be able to bring the truth out,” said Depp, who also added, “I don’t think anyone enjoys having to split themselves open and tell the truth.”
Johnny Depp (center).STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty
He also said, “No matter what happens, I did get here and I did tell the truth, and I have spoken up for what I’ve been carrying on my back reluctantly for six years.”
Meanwhile, Heard returned to the stand after him to testify about how the trial has impacted her.
“I’m not a saint. I’m not trying to present myself as one, as you all know,” she said, also adding that the online “mocking” of her testimony has been “agonizing.” Said Heard, “Perhaps it’s easy to forget that,but I’m a human being.”
About the $100 million in damages Heard is seeking, her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft said in closing arguments that they arrived at that number, double of Depp’s damages, to send “a message back.” She explained to the jury, “We’re not asking you to give $100 million. We’re asking you to just look at the damages in this case and just be fair and reasonable in whatever you determine.”
The jury resumed deliberation on Tuesday after the Memorial Day holiday. When the verdict comes through, it’ll be 19 months since Depp lost his U.K. libel case. Back in November 2020, the actorlost the highly publicized libel lawsuit casein London against British tabloidThe Sunfor calling him a “wife-beater.” The court upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true” and Heard testified to back up the claims. In March 2021, his attempt tooverturn the decision was overruled.
source: people.com
