Johnny Depp Amber Heard trial - live: Pirates actor loses legal battle against Sun

Follow for up-to-the-minute coverage of Royal Courts of Justice ruling

Johnny Depp loses libel case against The Sun over ‘wife beater’ article

Johnny Depp has lost his libel battle against the publisher of The Sun over an article which claimed he was a “wife beater”.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star sued the tabloid's publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) and its executive editor Dan Wootton over the 2018 article, which alleged he was violent to ex-wife Amber Heard during their relationship.

In the column, Mr Wootton asked how Harry Potter author JK Rowling could be "genuinely happy" after Mr Depp was cast in the latest film of the Fantastic Beasts spin-off series.

Key Points

• Depp loses libel battle against The Sun publisher
• Ruling will be appealed, lawyers for Depp say

[2 November 2020 10:50 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

Justice Nicol has detailed the 14 instances on which Johnny Depp and Amber Heard relied in testimony against the other.

Here is the judge’s conclusion on the first incident, titled “the tattoo incident”. 

High court ruling screengrab (High Court)

[2 November 2020 11:16 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

In incident two, titled “the painting incident”, Justice Nicol concludes “that Mr Depp did assault Ms Heard as she and the Defendants have alleged”. 

The in “Incident 3”, Justice Nicol provides the following findings: 

Incident 3 (High Court)

[2 November 2020 11:31 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

In incident 8, titled “Australia March 2015”, Justice Nicol writes: “I accept her (Heard) 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.”

[2 November 2020 11:55 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

Lisa King, director of communications at the domestic violence charity Refuge, has said: “This is an important ruling and one which we hope sends a very powerful message: every single survivor of domestic abuse should be listened to and should be heard. No survivor should ever have her voice silenced.

“A common tactic used by perpetrators of domestic abuse is to repeatedly tell victims that no one will believe them – and to use power and control to try and silence them. What we have seen today is that power, fame and financial resources cannot be used to silence women. That is a welcome message for survivors of domestic abuse around the world.

“We stand in solidarity with Amber Heard, who has shown immense bravery in speaking up and speaking out.”

[2 November 2020 12:15 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

[2 November 2020 12:23 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

Depp appealing ruling, lawyers say

Jenny Afia of Schillings law firm, who represented Mr Depp, said in a statement that the actor intends to appeal against the ruling.

Ms Afia said: “This decision is as perverse as it is bewildering.

“Most troubling is the judge's reliance on the testimony of Amber Heard, and corresponding disregard of the mountain of counter-evidence from police officers, medical practitioners, her own former assistant, other unchallenged witnesses and an array of documentary evidence which completely undermined the allegations, point by point.

“All of this was overlooked. The judgment is so flawed that it would be ridiculous for Mr Depp not to appeal this decision.

“In the meantime, we hope that in contrast to this case, the ongoing libel proceedings in America are equitable, with both parties providing full disclosure rather than one side strategically cherry picking what evidence can and cannot be relied upon.”

[2 November 2020 12:40 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

Timeline of Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard’s relationship

Johnny Depp lost his high-profile libel claim against the publisher of The Sun over allegations he was violent towards his ex-wife Amber Heard during their relationship – claims the Hollywood star vehemently denies.

The pair met in around 2011 on the set of The Rum Diary, a film adaption of a novel by Mr Depp's friend Hunter S Thompson, before they started living together in around 2012.

Here is a timeline of the key events in their relationship and the bitter legal battle that has ensued.

[2 November 2020 13:05 · Tom Embury-Dennis]

Justice Nicol’s judgement on Incident 4, “on private plane flying from Boston to Los Angeles”. 

Incident 4 (High Court)