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Johnny Depp loses libel case over Sun 'wife beater' claim Johnny Depp loses libel case over Sun 'wife beater' claim
(30 minutes later)
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard attended the trial in London in JulyJohnny Depp and Amber Heard attended the trial in London in July
Johnny Depp has lost his libel case against the Sun newspaper over an article that called him a "wife beater".Johnny Depp has lost his libel case against the Sun newspaper over an article that called him a "wife beater".
Mr Depp, 57, sued the paper after it claimed he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard, which he denies. The Sun said the article was accurate.Mr Depp, 57, sued the paper after it claimed he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard, which he denies. The Sun said the article was accurate.
Judge Mr Justice Nicol said the Sun had proved what was in the article to be "substantially true".Judge Mr Justice Nicol said the Sun had proved what was in the article to be "substantially true".
A spokesperson for the Sun thanked Ms Heard for "her courage".A spokesperson for the Sun thanked Ms Heard for "her courage".
The trial was heard over 16 days in July at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.The trial was heard over 16 days in July at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
What is libel and how does it work?What is libel and how does it work?
In a statement, Ms Heard's lawyer in the US said: "For those of us present for the London High Court trial, this decision and judgment are not a surprise.In a statement, Ms Heard's lawyer in the US said: "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 US.""Very soon, we will be presenting even more voluminous evidence in the US."
Mr Depp is suing Ms Heard in the US in a separate case, over an opinion piece she wrote in the Washington Post. Mr Depp says the article implied he was violent towards her.Mr Depp is suing Ms Heard in the US in a separate case, over an opinion piece she wrote in the Washington Post. Mr Depp says the article implied he was violent towards her.
Speaking outside court on the last day of the trial in July, Ms Heard said the case had been "incredibly painful" and she just wants to "move on her with her life".Speaking outside court on the last day of the trial in July, Ms Heard said the case had been "incredibly painful" and she just wants to "move on her with her life".
Amber Heard's statement outside court in JulyAmber Heard's statement outside court in July
The judge said: "I have found that the great majority of alleged assaults of Ms Heard by Mr Depp have been proved to the civil standard." The allegations of violence spanned the period between 2013 and 2016, when the couple split.
He said that "a recurring theme in Mr Depp's evidence was that Ms Heard had constructed a hoax and that she had done this as an 'insurance policy'," and that Ms Heard was a "gold-digger". In one of the incidents, in Australia in 2015, Mr Depp was allegedly physically and verbally abusive towards Ms Heard while drinking heavily and taking drugs.
"Taking all the evidence together, I accept that she was the victim of sustained and multiple assaults by Mr Depp in Australia," said the judge.
"It is a sign of the depth of his rage that he admitted scrawling graffiti in blood from his injured finger and then, when that was insufficient, dipping his badly injured finger in paint and continuing to write messages and other things.
"I accept her evidence of the nature of the assaults he committed against her. They must have been terrifying. I accept that Mr Depp put her in fear of her life."
Mr Depp spent around 20 hours in the witness box
The judge said that 12 of the 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence did occur.
The other two included an alleged incident in December 2014, which the judge said he was "not persuaded... constituted a physical assault", while he said the other in November 2015 could not be proven because it was not put to Mr Depp in cross-examination.
Mr Justice Nicol said that "a recurring theme in Mr Depp's evidence was that Ms Heard had constructed a hoax and that she had done this as an 'insurance policy'," and that Ms Heard was a "gold-digger".
But he added: "I do not accept this characterisation of Ms Heard."But he added: "I do not accept this characterisation of Ms Heard."
The judge said: "Although he [Depp] 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. 'No excuse for domestic abuse'
"I have reached these conclusions having examined in detail the 14 incidents on which the defendants rely, as well as the over-arching considerations which the claimant submitted."
A spokesperson for the Sun said: "The Sun has stood up and campaigned for the victims of domestic abuse for over 20 years.A spokesperson for the Sun said: "The Sun has stood up and campaigned for the victims of domestic abuse for over 20 years.
"Domestic abuse victims must never be silenced and we thank the judge for his careful consideration and thank Amber Heard for her courage in giving evidence to the court.""Domestic abuse victims must never be silenced and we thank the judge for his careful consideration and thank Amber Heard for her courage in giving evidence to the court."
Charity Women's Aid said everyone who experiences domestic abuse "deserves to be listened to and believed".
"This also applies to survivors who do not fit the image of the 'perfect' victim - and regardless of the high profile of the alleged abuser. There is no excuse for domestic abuse."
Mr Depp's case was brought against News Group Newspapers (NGN) - publisher of the Sun - and executive editor Dan Wootton over an article published on the Sun's website on 27 April 2018.Mr Depp's case was brought against News Group Newspapers (NGN) - publisher of the Sun - and executive editor Dan Wootton over an article published on the Sun's website on 27 April 2018.
Mr Depp sued Dan Wootton, pictured, and the Sun's publisherMr Depp sued Dan Wootton, pictured, and the Sun's publisher
The article had the headline: "Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?"The article had the headline: "Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?"
Evidence was heard from both Mr Depp and actress Ms Heard, 34, along with friends and relatives of the ex-couple, and several former and current employees.Evidence was heard from both Mr Depp and actress Ms Heard, 34, along with friends and relatives of the ex-couple, and several former and current employees.
Mr Depp's lawyer David Sherborne said his client's case was about "clearing his name".Mr Depp's lawyer David Sherborne said his client's case was about "clearing his name".
In its defence, the Sun's publisher said Mr Depp was "controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs" between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split.In its defence, the Sun's publisher said Mr Depp was "controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs" between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split.
The lawyer for the Sun's publisher, Sasha Wass QC, argued there is "no doubt that Mr Depp regularly and systematically abused his wife. The characterisation that he is a wife-beater is entirely truthful".The lawyer for the Sun's publisher, Sasha Wass QC, argued there is "no doubt that Mr Depp regularly and systematically abused his wife. The characterisation that he is a wife-beater is entirely truthful".