") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gpjOba::before{display:none}}.hWxisF{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.hWxisF{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.hWxisF{max-width:622px}}.dvfakS{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#ec1a2e}.ctXiMg{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.CRIit{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.CRIit:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.CRIit:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.ghJHgZ{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jlvSeZ{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.jlvSeZ::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@media(min-width:768px){.ifXxYf{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.gYsKvs{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}.hCEqSm .tp-container-inner,.hCEqSm .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.hCEqSm.closed{display:none}.fJiZWQ{display:block;margin:0 0 16px;color:inherit;text-decoration:underline}.jlMLQf{width:32px;color:#627aac}@media(min-width:768px){.jlMLQf.mobile-only{display:none}}.jlMLQf:hover{color:#9cabcb}.ilTwGS{width:32px;color:#4e4e4e}@media(min-width:768px){.ilTwGS.mobile-only{display:none}}.ilTwGS:hover{color:#919191}.hiqCrg{width:32px;color:#25d366}@media(min-width:768px){.hiqCrg.mobile-only{display:none}}.hiqCrg:hover{color:#66e093}.kiwuTP{width:32px;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.kiwuTP.mobile-only{display:none}}.kiwuTP:hover{color:#f58992}.wViVX{display:flex;gap:12px}.kWPFaS{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483644;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);cursor:pointer;opacity:0;transition:opacity 300ms ease-in-out}.kWPFaS.overlay-background--open{width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:1}.gXmchn{--trans:300ms ease-in-out;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483645;width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(-24px);transform-origin:top center;transition:transform var(--trans),opacity var(--trans)}.gXmchn.overlay--open{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);transition-delay:150ms}.gXmchn.overlay--open>:first-child{pointer-events:auto}.cArLiK .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.jKfqFn{--margin-x:12px;--modal-width:calc(100% - (var(--margin-x) * 2));--modal-max-width:351px;--padding:60px 16px 42px;--line-height:1.25;display:flex;position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;overflow:auto;width:var(--modal-width);max-width:var(--modal-max-width);max-height:100vh;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:var(--padding);background-color:#eaf2f2;box-shadow:0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);line-height:var(--line-height);transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}@media(min-width:768px){.jKfqFn{--modal-width:600px;--modal-max-width:none;--padding:72px 80px 64px;--line-height:1.2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.jKfqFn{--modal-width:635px}}.eYHQuU{--close-button-margin:16px;position:absolute;top:var(--close-button-margin);right:var(--close-button-margin)}@media(min-width:768px){.eYHQuU{--close-button-margin:24px}}.gVWZyJ{width:100%;max-width:437px;margin-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.gVWZyJ{margin-bottom:18px}}.gvKsFx{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;width:.01em;height:.01em;padding:0;border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap}.loKuIs{width:100%;margin:0}.ktFUxH{margin:0 0 30px;font:bold 26px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}@media(min-width:768px){.ktFUxH{font:bold 28px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}}.cnAboz{display:block;width:100%;padding:0;margin:0 0 30px;font:normal 16px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.cnAboz{font:normal 20px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bdfufZ{display:block;margin-top:30px;color:#222;font:normal 16px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.cVoYmY{padding:0}.isfpiE{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#70a5a7}.ixvYXS{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.hCHeth{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.hCHeth{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.hvJvAA{display:flex}.sticky .hvJvAA{flex-direction:column}.kciiLJ{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.kciiLJ{height:25px}}.fSsEip{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fSsEip::after{content:':'}.kdqbii{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.kdqbii::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .lkPksW{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .lkPksW{margin-top:-407px}}.lkPksW>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .lkPksW>p{line-height:27px}.lkPksW>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .lkPksW>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .lkPksW>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.lkPksW>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.lkPksW span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.gMxIQB{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fJIQUi{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eFDpwi{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.eFDpwi{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.eFDpwi{max-width:622px}}.jkkqcL{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.jkkqcL{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.dDFcwe{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dDFcwe{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.jbPJqN{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.jbPJqN{display:none}}.fdEOdF{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.fdEOdF{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.bcQtEw{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jIgCsj{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jIgCsj:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jIgCsj:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.bhFQeV{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.kqOtlp{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.kqOtlp{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bvgAkY{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bvgAkY{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.ZbvOr{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.ZbvOr{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.cqHcKs{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.cqHcKs{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.bjQKsM{order:-1}}.gBaKpR .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-mid:rgba(253,232,234,0.5);--fade-to:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:360px){.gBaKpR .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}.czoMqL{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.czoMqL .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.czoMqL .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.czoMqL .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.czoMqL.sponsored-article img,.czoMqL.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.czoMqL.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.czoMqL .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.czoMqL .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.czoMqL .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.czoMqL .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL{max-width:624px;margin:0}.czoMqL.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.czoMqL{padding-right:0}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222}.hxWiMl{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#fff;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.hxWiMl{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hxWiMl{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.hIiCJP{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:20px}}.hIiCJP::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.hIiCJP:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.hIiCJP{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.hIiCJP::before{margin-top:2px}}.hIiCJP time{display:block}.hIiCJP time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.kQUTeT{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ef4757;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.kQUTeT:hover,.kQUTeT:active{color:#f58992}@media(min-width:768px){.kQUTeT{margin-bottom:0}}.kuCYzg{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.kuCYzg{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kuCYzg{width:30%}}.gpMjkH{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.gpMjkH{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gpMjkH{flex-direction:row}}.bmsYCE{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bmsYCE{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .bmsYCE{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.bmsYCE{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .bmsYCE{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.bmsYCE a{color:#fff}.bmsYCE a:hover{color:#f58992}.bmsYCE a:hover::after{color:#fff}.bmsYCE a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.bmsYCE a:last-child::after{display:none}.bPeEQC{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.bpwcVt{margin:0;color:#fff;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bpwcVt{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bpwcVt{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bpwcVt p{font:inherit}.article-feature .bpwcVt a{font-weight:bold}.jaLjpk{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222}@media(min-width:1000px){.jaLjpk{padding:0 16px}.parallax .jaLjpk{max-width:1240px}}.clZtvZ{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.cEPZGL{background:#222}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-2,.cEPZGL .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.cEPZGL .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}@keyframes slidedown-video{from{transform:translateY(-100%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes slideup-video{from{transform:translateY(200%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}.lnqERm .video-top-container-inner{position:relative}.lnqERm .video-popout-close{display:none}.lnqERm .video-hero-wrapper-inner{display:block}.lnqERm .video-hero-video{width:100%;margin:0;transition:height .2s}.lnqERm .video-hero-wrapper.sticky-video{position:fixed;top:95px;width:400px;margin-left:-332px;transition:margin-left .3s,top .3s .1s}.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video{position:static;right:0;left:auto;width:100%}.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video.liveblog{margin-left:-12px}@media(min-width:768px){.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video{position:absolute;width:400px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video{top:94px;right:-56px}.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video.liveblog{right:-400px}}.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video .video-sticky-video{position:fixed;top:0;left:auto;z-index:9;width:100%;background-color:#fff;box-shadow:0 0 40px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.5)}@media(min-width:768px){.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video .video-sticky-video{width:400px;animation:slidedown-video .4s}}@media(min-width:1000px){.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-hero-video .video-sticky-video{top:auto;bottom:0;animation:slideup-video .4s}}.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close{display:none;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;padding:4px 8px 3px;color:#222;cursor:pointer;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:14px}@media(min-width:1000px){.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close{justify-content:flex-start}}.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close::after{display:flex;align-items:center;padding-left:4px;content:'\2715';font-size:12px}.lnqERm .video-top-container.video.sticky:not(.closed) .video-popout-close.shown{display:flex}.kUPUEy{max-width:100%}.kOdxXt{position:relative}.jnopNU{position:relative;width:100%;padding-top:56.25%;background:#000}.iJggkx{display:flex;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center}.ppqnz{width:10%}.kIJjDj.fullscreen{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:3000000000;width:100%;height:100%;background:#000}.kIJjDj .closebtn{display:none;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;width:100px;height:100px}.kIJjDj .closebtn.show{display:block}.kIJjDj .btn{position:absolute;top:5px;right:5px;width:25px;height:25px;color:#fff;font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:25px;text-align:center}.hIqZkH{max-width:100%;clear:both}.ldpSwp{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .ldpSwp{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.ilJfaV{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.fIgmuu{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.fIgmuu.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.grPbuS{min-height:600px}.grPbuS #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.jfSvuX{min-height:250px}.kdHApG{max-width:100%}.dgoHoz{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.eSkAOW{margin:0 0 12px}.ctSnkl{height:380px}.cCOQKx{width:100%;height:51px}.NgRo{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.ksidoU{margin-bottom:16px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.dvQXpA{width:308px}.dvQXpA.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.dvQXpA{display:none}}.article-liveblog .bZTaXI{background-color:#f7f7f7}.wQyIS{justify-content:center}.jQYxbM{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News World Americas Amber Heard moves to appeal verdict in Johnny Depp defamation case Notice to appeal has been filed in Virginia
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe Already subscribed? Log in Amber Heard says she felt 'less than human' during defamation trial Leer en Español Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more Amber Heard has officially moved to appeal the verdict in the defamation case which opposed her and Johnny Depp in Virginia .
Ms Heard’s attorney on Thursday (21 July) filed a notice to appeal with the Virginia Court of Appeals.
The notice specifies that Ms Heard is appealing the verdict rendered in the case on 1 June and entered into a final order on 24 June by Judge Penney Azcarate, as well as an order dated 13 July in which the judge denied post-trial motions by Ms Heard’s legal team, through which they had asked the judge to dismiss the verdict.
The notice of appeal also includes “all additional orders and rulings by the trial court” prior to those two orders.
Full appeal documents are expected to follow.
The defamation trial, which began on 11 April in Fairfax, Virginia, and made headlines for weeks as it was televised in full, stemmed from a complaint filed in March 2019 by Mr Depp agains his ex-wife.
Mr Depp alleged that Ms Heard had defamed him in an op-ed published in The Washington Post , in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse”. Ms Heard filed a counter-suit in November 2020, asking to be granted immunity against Mr Depp’s claims.
On 1 June, a jury overwhelingly found in Mr Depp’s that Ms Heard had defamed Mr Depp in three statements. Jurors also found that an attorney for Mr Depp defamed her in one of three statements highlighted in her counter-suit. Mr Depp was awarded $10.35m in damages, while Ms Heard was awarded $2m.
Ms Heard’s legal team declared their intent to appeal the verdict shortly after it became known.
Earlier in July, Ms Heard’s attorneys asked Judge Azcarate to set aside the verdict and to either set aside the complaint or order a new trial. The judge declined to do so and upheld the verdict.
A spokesperson for Mr Depp said in a statement: “The jury listened to the extensive evidence presented during the six-week trial and came to a clear and unanimous verdict that the defendant herself defamed Mr Depp in multiple instances. We remain confident in our case and that this verdict will stand.”
A spokesperson for Ms Heard said: “We believe the court made errors that prevented a just and fair verdict consistent with the First Amendment. We are therefore appealing the verdict. While we realize today’s filing will ignite the Twitter bonfires, there are steps we need to take to ensure both fairness and justice.”
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in