The legal battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard finally reached court on Monday, after three years since the star of Pirates of the Caribbean sued Amber Heard for defamation over an opinion piece she published in the Washington Post describing herself as a “victim of domestic abuse.”
Since Amber filed for divorce in 2016, the former couple’s relationship has been the subject of intense public and media scrutiny, as well as several rounds of legal battles in which more than 100 witnesses could be called to the stand. Additionally, both Johnny and Amber are scheduled to testify at the trial taking place in Fairfax County, Virginia.
1. What is the status of the trial?
The 11 jurors have been selected. Judge Penney Azcarate will preside over the trial in Fairfax County District Court and opening arguments began today.
2. Why did they get divorced?
The ex-partner met in 2009 during the recordings of Diary of a seducer and they were married in 2015. However, it seems that the problems between the two began in May 2016 when the police in Los Angeles, California, received a call to investigate a domestic dispute. Shortly after, Amber filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
A Los Angeles court also granted her request for a restraining order due to Johnny’s allegedly “violent” behavior, which included yelling, grabbing, punching and throwing a cell phone at the actress during a fight.
After they reached a $7 million settlement in August 2016, Amber dropped the restraining order. “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love,” they said in a joint statement, and they eventually divorced in early 2017.
3. Why did Johnny Depp sue Amber Heard?
In December 2018, Amber wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post titled: “I spoke out against sexual violence and faced the wrath of our culture. That has to change.” The article, which does not mention Depp by name, details what happened to him two years earlier, when he “became a public figure representing domestic abuse.”
Four days later, after a year of uncertainty surrounding the saga of Pirates of the CaribbeanDisney fired Johnny from the franchise Pirates of the Caribbean in December 2019.
The actor responded in retaliation against his ex-wife and filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit in March 2020, claiming the article further damaged his lucrative career and reputation. The following year, after trying multiple times to get the case dismissed, Amber filed a counterclaim for $100 million.
4. How is this different from the London trial?
In 2020, Depp sued The Sun for defamation after the British tabloid called him a “wife beater” and published 14 allegations of domestic violence he had allegedly committed against the actress. The case ended in favor of The Sun after a judge declared the article “substantially true” and concluded that 12 of the 14 incidents had occurred.
Although Amber was not a party to the lawsuit, she did testify during the 16-day trial. Days after the verdict, Johnny was removed from the franchise. fantastic animals and replaced by Mads Mikkelsen. The actor later tried to appeal the ruling and was denied by a London judge in March 2021.
5. Who will testify at Depp-Heard’s trial?
Along with Depp and Heard, the court will hear up to 100 witnesses. Among those who could testify are James Franco, who reportedly asked about bruises on Heard’s face after an alleged altercation with Depp; Paul Bettany, who exchanged texts with Depp about Heard; Elon Musk, Heard’s ex-boyfriend with whom she texted about Depp, and representatives from Disney, Warner Bros., the LAPD and the ACLU.
Potential exhibits include correspondence with Jack White, JK Rowling, the star of AquamanJason Momoa, director James Wan, Zack Snyder, the original director of Justice League and Bryan Lourd of CAA.
6. What did Johnny Depp and Amber Heard say before the trial?
A few days before the trial began, Amber Herad shared a message with her followers on her Instagram account, assuring that she has always felt love for Johnny Depp and appreciates the support she has received. However, the actor refrained from making any public statements before the trial was held.
7. Why is the trial in Virginia?
Johnny Depp’s lawyers they filed the case in Virginia because that is the location of the government’s print shops and online servers. Washington Post. However, the newspaper is not part of the lawsuit. While the star’s lawyers the danish girl they requested that the trial be held in Los Angeles, where the couple used to share a house.
8. How long is the trial expected to last?
The trial is expected to last at least a few weeks, with most analysts estimating it will take about a month and a half.
9. Where to see the trial of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard?
The trial will be broadcast live on the American Court TV network and through its multiplatform network for free.
Source: Okchicas
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