London’s High Court ruled today that Johnny Depp had lost his libel case against News Groups Newspapers’ The Sun and its Executive Editor Dan Wootton.
Depp, 57, was suing over an April 2018 article, which branded him a “wife beater” in relation to former wife Amber Heard’s claims of violence.
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.
One of the most shocking allegations made in the trial was by Depp, who claimed that Heard, 34, had defecated in their marital bed.
Depp vowed to divorce Heard, whom he referred to as “Amber Turd” following the incident, claiming she left the poo in revenge for a birthday bust-up.
Johnny Depp has lost his libel case against NGN (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Cleaner Hilda Vargas who has worked for Depp for more than 30 years, said she was “horrified and disgusted” to find the “fresh faeces” which she claimed could have only been left by a human.
Speaking via video link during the three-week trial in July, she said: “I pulled back the top sheet on the bed and saw a large pile of faeces.
“I was horrified and disgusted. It was clear to me that this was human faeces.
“I knew that the faeces could not have come from either of Mr Depp’s or Ms Heard’s two small dogs.
“I have cleaned up after those dogs many times and their faeces are much smaller. Further, I have never known those dogs to defecate in the bed.”
The poo was found in the couple’s bed after Amber’s 30th birthday (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Vargas said in her statement it showed a “lack of respect” and took photos of the faeces to show Depp’s estate manager, before cleaning up the mess and changing the sheets.
Depp said the faeces were “not left by a three of four-pound dog”, referring to the couple’s Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo.
Vargas claimed Heard confronted her and said the photos she had taken had “destroyed her marriage”.
The poo had been found in the couple’s bed the morning after Depp had been two hours late to Heard’s 30th birthday party in Los Angeles.
Vargas took snaps of the faeces (Image: Hilda Vargas)
Depp is claimed to have got angry with Heard following her confronting him over his lateness, with the actor allegedly throwing a magnum of champagne at his then-wife.
Ruling on the case today, the judge said: “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’s lawyers said on Monday that Depp intended to appeal against the ruling.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
