Johnny Depp lost in his libel case brought against NGN, publishers of The Sun newspaper.
The judge residing over the case dismissed Depp’s claim, stating NGN proved that what was in the article was “substantially true”.
Justice Andrew Nichol declared: “The claimant has not succeeded in his action for libel.
“Although he has proved the necessary elements of his cause of action in libel, the defendants have shown that what they published in the meaning which I have held the words to bear was substantially true.
“I have reached these conclusions having examined in detail the 14 incidents on which the defendants rely as well as the overarching considerations which the claimant submitted I should take into account.”
Depp, 57, was suing the publication and the publication’s Executive Editor for libel after a comment piece from 2018 branded him a “wife beater”.
During the three-week hearing in July 2020, the court was told that the actress accuses her former spouse of attacking her on at least 14 occasions between 2013 and 2016, after allegedly becoming angry after a drink and drugs binge.
The judge said that 12 of the 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence did occur.
The judge found that Depp put Heard “in fear of her life” during what she described as a “three-day hostage situation” in Australia in March 2015, as well as on the Eastern and Oriental Express in South East Asia that August and again in LA in December of the same year.
Depp has always denied these allegations.
Depp’s libel battle came to a close today (Image: Getty Images)
A dstatement from Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, U.S. counsel for Amber Heard read: “For those of us present for the London High Court trial, this decision and Judgment are not a surprise.
“Very soon, we will be presenting even more voluminous evidence in the U.S. We are committed to obtaining Justice for Amber Heard in the U.S. Court and defending Ms. Heard’s Right to Free Speech.”
Amber, who was brought in as a star witness for NGN, also said that Depp accused her of having affairs with an array of her film co-stars during the 16-day trial.
She claimed: “He also accused me of having affairs with stars I auditioned with, like Leonardo DiCaprio.”
Speaking on the steps of the High Court in London at the end of the hearing, Amber who wasn’t in attendance at today’s verdict, said: “I travelled here to the UK to testify as a witness to assist the court.
Both Heard and Depp gave evidence during the three-week hearing in July (Image: Getty Images)
“After getting a restraining order in 2016 and finalising my divorce I just wanted to move on with my life.
“I did not file this lawsuit and despite its significance I would have preferred not to be here in court.”
Heard continued: “It has been incredibly painful to relive the break-up of my relationship.
“To have my motives and my truth questioned and the most traumatic and intimate parts of my life with Johnny shared in court and broadcast to the world.
The verdict was delivered remotely today (Image: WireImage)
“I stand by my testimony and I now place my faith in British legal system.”
Showbiz experts have claimed that fallout from the trial could cost the stars hundreds of millions of pounds.
Depp was dropped from his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the sixth Pirates Of The Caribbean movie before the court battle began.
One entertainment industry expert said: “The fallout will spread far and wide and deep – right into these stars’ wallets.
“It could cost them hundreds of millions.”
Insiders had said it could cost Depp even more if he is dropped from JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts franchise.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
