Johnny Depp And Amber Heard’s Team Rest Cases For Final Time In $50m Defamation Case

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's legal teams have both rested their cases in the defamation trial.

Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife over an op-ed piece she wrote in 2018 for The Washington Post.

While Heard did not mention the Pirates of the Caribbean actor by name, Depp argued that her claim of being 'a public figure representing domestic abuse' insinuated he had abused her during their marriage and that the aspersion ruined not only his career but his reputation too.

Depp is seeking $50 million (£38.2 million) in damages. Heard has countersued for $100 million (£793,780).

Both sides' legal teams are expected to make their closing statements tomorrow, 27 May.

The trial – which first began on 11 April and has lasted six weeks – has seen multiple witnesses take to the stand at Circuit Court in Fairfax County, Virginia.

From psychologists who have commented on Heard's mental state, to Depp's bodyguard who testified on the actor's drug use.

Depp's ex-girlfriend Kate Moss even appeared via video link to reflect on an incident that allegedly occurred when the pair were on holiday in Jamaica.

On the final day of testimonies, Thursday, 26 May, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Robert Gilbert – a witness for Depp's team – took to the stand to give his view on a finger injury Depp sustained in Australia in March 2015.

His testimony contradicted one given earlier in the trial by orthopaedic surgeon Richard Moore who called Depp's recollection of events 'inconsistent'.

While Dr Gilbert admitted he could not definitively state how the injury occurred, the orthopaedic called Heard's description of events 'highly unlikely'.

Depp then rested his rebuttal case.

Heard's team went on to present its first rebuttal witness – computer forensic investigator Julian Ackert.

Ackert rebutted the earlier testimony of expert witness Brian Neumeister, who analysed Heard's phone records for Depp's team to see if the photographs of Heard's alleged injuries had been edited.

The two photographs were presented in court.

While Neumeister didn't state the photos had been intentionally altered, he pointed out their different file sizes.

However, Ackert responded: "Based on the metadata that I have reviewed of the specific photographs I have reviewed, I can confirm that those are authentic, original photographs for the ones that Neumeister identified."

Heard's forensic psychologist Dr Dawn Hughes also took to the stand again.

She responded to Dr Shannon Curry's accusation that she had used 'improper methods' in her evaluation of Heard as showing findings consistent 'about what we know about Intimate Partner Violence' and that the Aquaman actress suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dr Hughes disagreed with Dr Curry's statement.

Heard claimed she receives 'hundreds of death threats regularly, if not daily, thousands since this trial has started'.

She testified that she 'can't have people associate with her' because of the threats.

"Johnny threatened, promised, promised me, that if I ever left him he'd make me think of him every single day that I lived," she said.

Pictures taken of Heard on 28 May, 2016 were also shown to the court.

They were reportedly taken the day after the actress obtained the domestic violence restraining order against Depp.

Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez stated: "There's no bruise on your face in this picture."

Heard denied knowing when the image was taken and said she was 'obviously wearing makeup'.

During the trial, Depp testified he has never hit Heard nor 'any woman in [his] life'.

Heard admitted to striking Depp on multiple occasions. However, she insisted it was only to 'defend [her]self'.

While accounts of verbal abuse, sexual violence and assault have been detailed within the trial, the only question the jury must reach a verdict on when they go into deliberation tomorrow is: "Did Amber Heard defame Johnny Depp in 2018 op-ed article for The Washington Post?"

The possible outcomes subsequently don't include prison sentences, but one side being awarded damages and ultimately having their name cleared.

If a verdict is not reached tomorrow, deliberations are reported as continuing from Tuesday, 31 May.

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