Johnny Depp’s blockbuster libel trial wraps up

July 29 ------ Johnny Depp grabbed a teddy bear from a fan and waved to a crush of supporters Tuesday as he entered London’s High Court for the final day of his three-week libel trial against Britain’s The Sun tabloid over allegations he beat ex-wife Amber Heard. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise hero was mobbed by fans chanting “Justice for Johnny” and trying to pass bouquets of flowers to the Hollywood star. Heard made a low-key entrance through a side door.

Depp rejects accusations of repeatedly hurting the 34-year-old actress over a three-year span that ended with Heard’s 2016 decision to get a restraining order and file for divorce. The 57-year-old’s former American fiance Winona Ryder and long-term French partner Vanessa Paradis both testified on his behalf. The Sun’s legal team called Depp a “Jekyll and Hyde” character who was “controlling and physically abusive towards Ms Heard” — especially when he was on drugs.

But Depp’s attorney David Sherborne — whose celebrity list of clients has included Mick Jagger and Hugh Grant — said The Sun’s defense was pointless because the Hollywood star never denied struggling with addiction. “It would be easy to lose focus on precisely why we are all here,” Sherborne said in his closing statement. “We are all here because the newspaper and (executive editor Dan) Wootton chose to publish this extremely serious allegation, an allegation which Mr Depp says — and has always said — is completely untrue.” Judge Andrew Nicol is expected to take some days poring over 12 bulging volumes of evidence submitted in a case born at the hight of the #MeToo movement.

Source: entertainment.inquirer.net