![]() However, taken with the evidence as a whole, I find that it did occur.' The judge said: 'Seen in isolation, the evidence that Mr Depp assaulted Ms Heard on this occasion might not be sufficient. She claims Depp later cried and apologised, telling her that he sometimes turns into 'the monster' when he snaps. He slapped across the face when she made a comment about his 'Winona Forever' tattoo, which he changed to 'Wino Forever' when they split up. Heard says Depp was completely sober until early 2013, and around that time he allegedly hit her for the first time when they were in Los Angeles. That case is due to be heard in Virginia, where the Washington Post is published, some time in 2021. The actor is reportedly seeking 50 million US dollars in damages from his ex-wife over the article, which did not mention him by name - but Heard is countersuing for twice that amount, claiming Depp orchestrated a smear camp against her. 'Very soon, we will be presenting even more voluminous evidence in the US.'ĭepp is currently embroiled in a separate libel battle in the US, having sued Heard personally over a 2018 Washington Post opinion piece in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. His solicitor Jenny Afia, from the Schillings law firm, had said the High Court ruling was 'as perverse as it is bewildering', adding: 'The judgment is so flawed that it would be ridiculous for Depp not to appeal this decision.'īut Heard's US lawyer, Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, said: 'For those of us present for the London High Court trial, this decision and judgment are not a surprise. ![]() The judge said 'a recurring theme in Depp's evidence was that Heard had constructed a hoax and that she had done this as an 'insurance policy'', and that Heard was a 'gold-digger'.īut he added: 'I do not accept this characterisation of Heard.' Nicol found Heard was also in fear for her life during incidents on the Eastern and Oriental Express in South East Asia in August 2015 and again in LA in December of the same year. The judge found that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in 'fear for her life' on three occasions, including one the actress described as a 'three-day hostage situation' in Australia in March 2015. In his main judgment, Nicol concluded that 12 of the 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence relied on by NGN did occur. ![]() In the ruling, Nicol gave Depp until December 7 to apply directly to the Court of Appeal to overturn his judgment. 'In any event, I do not consider that the proposed grounds of appeal have a reasonable prospect of success - and that is also the case so far as the grounds of appeal suggest that I erred in principle or in law - and there is not some other compelling reason why permission to appeal should be granted.' Nicol said in his ruling: 'In substance, the claimant disagrees with my findings of fact, but for the reasons summarised by (NGN's barrister Adam Wolanksi QC) the findings of fact by a first instance tribunal - particularly one, such as myself, who has heard oral evidence - are rarely open to challenge on appeal. The judge also ordered the actor to make an initial payment to NGN of almost $840,000 for the publisher's legal fees. Justice Nicol said in his ruling: 'I do not consider that the proposed grounds of appeal have a reasonable prospect of success.' Johnny Depp (pictured) was recently denied permission to appeal the ruling on the libel case he brought against The Sun publisher News Group Newspapers and executive editor Dan Wootton for labeling him a 'wife beater'
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