Jury deliberations in Depp, Heard case to resume on Tuesday By Reuters

(Be aware Paragraph 10 accommodates language that some readers could discover offensive)

By Lisa Richwine

(Reuters) – Jurors deliberating the dueling defamation claims from actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard adjourned on Friday with out delivering verdicts, leaving the decision within the broadly watched six-week trial to subsequent week.

Depp, the 58-year-old “Pirates of the Caribbean” star, sued ex-wife Heard in Virginia for $50 million and argued that she defamed him when she referred to as herself “a public determine representing home abuse” in an opinion piece she wrote.

Heard, 36, countersued for $100 million, saying Depp smeared her when his lawyer referred to as her accusations a “hoax.”

The seven-person jury deliberated for greater than two hours on Friday. They may resume discussions on Tuesday after the U.S. Memorial Day vacation.

Depp has denied hitting Heard or any lady and mentioned she was the one who turned violent of their relationship.

“Mr. Depp skilled persistent verbal, bodily and emotional abuse by Ms. Heard,” lawyer Camille Vasquez mentioned in closing arguments on Friday.

She mentioned Heard’s allegations of abuse by Depp, together with a sexual assault with a liquor bottle, had been “wild, over-the-top and implausible” and had ruined his fame in Hollywood and amongst followers.

“We ask you to offer Mr. Depp his life again by telling the world Mr. Depp shouldn’t be the abuser Ms. Heard says he’s,” Vasquez mentioned.

Heard lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn, in his closing argument, reminded jurors of express textual content messages from Depp to associates or associates.

In a single, Depp referred to as Heard a “filthy whore” and mentioned he needed her lifeless and “would fuck her burnt corpse.”

“This can be a window into the center and thoughts of America’s favourite pirate,” Rottenborn mentioned. “That is the actual Johnny Depp.”

On the heart of the authorized case is the December 2018 opinion piece by Heard within the Washington Publish, through which she made the assertion about home abuse. The article by no means talked about Depp by identify, however his lawyer advised jurors it was clear that Heard was referring to him.

Heard’s attorneys argued that she had advised the reality and that her feedback had been lined as free speech underneath the U.S. Structure’s First Modification.

“Your key query to reply is ‘does the First Modification give Ms. Heard the fitting to put in writing the phrases she wrote?” Rottenborn advised the jury. “You can’t concurrently uphold the First Modification and discover in favor of Johnny Depp.”

Depp and Heard met in 2011 whereas filming “The Rum Diary” and wed in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized about two years later.

Over six weeks of proceedings, jurors have listened to recordings of the previous couple’s fights and seen graphic pictures of Depp’s bloody finger.

Depp mentioned Heard threw a vodka bottle that minimize off the highest of his finger throughout an argument in 2015. Heard denied injuring Depp’s finger and mentioned Depp sexually assaulted her that night time with a liquor bottle.

The testimony was livestreamed broadly on social media, drawing giant audiences to listen to particulars in regards to the couple’s troubled relationship.

As soon as amongst Hollywood’s greatest stars, Depp mentioned Heard’s allegations value him “all the pieces.” A brand new “Pirates” film was placed on maintain, and Depp was changed within the “Incredible Beasts” movie franchise, a “Harry Potter” spinoff.

Depp misplaced a libel case lower than two years in the past towards the Solar, a British tabloid that labeled him a “spouse beater.” A London Excessive Courtroom choose dominated that he had repeatedly assaulted Heard.

Depp’s legal professionals filed the U.S. case in Fairfax County, Virginia, as a result of the Washington Publish is printed there. The newspaper shouldn’t be a defendant.