Johnny Depp Vs Amber Heard: Depp Wins The $50 Million Lawsuit In The Defamation Trial

Only after a few days of deliberation, the jury in the infamous defamation case has reached its final verdict.

The jury has decided unanimously in favor of Depp, confirming that Heard did in fact defame Depp in his article for The Washington Post, and have awarded the actor $15 million in damages.

While the judge was announcing the verdict, Heard was present at the court, meanwhile, Depp was not present in the court and it was reported that the actor was watching it from the UK, having flown over to perform at concerts with Jeff Beck in Sheffield and London.

Depp sued his ex-wife on defamation over a 2018 op-ed in which Heard claimed to be a victim of domestic violence. She issued a counterclaim for $100m (£76.4m).

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Even though the article did not mention Depp's name explicitly, it was obvious that it was directed towards him. 

The verdict comes six weeks after the courtroom saw an intense case in which testimonies were presented from both sides' legal teams to prove their clients right. 

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In his closing remarks, Benjamin Rottenborn, representing Heard, said that a verdict in Depp's favour would demonstrate to abuse victims that they would 'always need to do more'.

"The facts are absolutely overwhelming, of abuse," he told the jury.

"Mr Depp simply cannot prove to you that he never once abused Amber, and if you don't know, you have to return a verdict for Ms Heard.

"A ruling against Amber here sends the message that no matter what you do as an abuse victim you always need to do more.

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"No matter what you document you always have to document more, no matter who you tell you always have to tell more people.

"No matter how honest you are about your own imperfections and shortcomings in a relationship you need to be perfect in order for people to believe you.

"Don't send that message – that's what (Mr Depp) wants you to do."

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Meanwhile, Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez said in her closing remarks that the 'mountain' of evidence that Depp assaulted his former partner was 'simply not there'.

She said: "It is disturbing to think Ms Heard would make up the horrific tales of abuse that she testified to in this courtroom.

"What Ms Heard testified to in this courtroom is a story of far too many women, but the overwhelming evidence and weight of that evidence is that it is not her story.

"It is not Ms Heard's story.

"It was an act of profound cruelty not just to Mr Depp, but to true survivors of domestic abuse for Ms Heard to hold herself out as a public figure representing domestic abuse.

"It was false, it was defamatory and it caused irreparable harm."

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Johnny Depp and Heard got into a relationship in 2011 when they met on the film set of The Rum Diary and got married in 2015. Heard obtained a restraining order against Depp the following year and they finalized their divorce in 2017.

Asked about her decision to file for divorce from Depp in May 2016, Heard said in court: "I knew if I didn't I'd likely not literally survive.

"I was so scared that it was going to end really badly for me and I really didn't want to leave him, I loved him so much.

"I would have done anything but I couldn't do that one thing, I couldn't stay."

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In 2020, Depp lost a libel case brought against The Sun over an article in which he was labelled a 'wife beater'. 

He has denied all allegations of abuse and claimed that these allegations ruined his personal life and his career.