VERDICT IS IN: JURY FIND IN FAVOUR OF DEPP

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It’s official, and it’s time for a mega pint!

The jury has reached their verdict and found overwhelmingly in favour of Johnny Depp.

As the most hotly followed real-life court drama in recent history comes to a heart-stopping conclusion, the jury has found that Heard’s comments in the media had defamatory implications for Mr Depp.

The Virginia jury’s decision was split. They sided with Johnny Depp, finding that Heard had defamed him in a 2018 op-ed, a verdict that handed the actor a victory in his long battle over domestic abuse allegations. However, they also found that one of the three statements at the centre of Heard’s lawsuit, by one of Depp’s lawyers, had been defamatory.

The case was one of the most highly publicised civil cases of the #MeToo movement.

The jury awarded Depp $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, the judge capping punitive damages at $10.35 million.

Heard was awarded $2 million in damages.

In the 6 week trial, Amber Heard testified that Mr Depp sexually assaulted her and engaged in a pattern of violence – allegations he vehemently denied.

Televised lived and watched by millions globally, the riveting story of two Hollywood stars’ relationship and marriage, which fell apart in 2016 was heard and observed. Both Ms. Heard, 36, and Mr. Depp, 58, accused the other of repeated physical abuse throughout their relationship.