In the defamation trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, a jury who wasn't actually supposed to have a say in the decision. A reason for Heard's lawyers to contest the verdict. But the judge dismisses her.
The US actress Amber Heard has failed after the defamation trial against her ex-husband Johnny Depp in an attempt to have the verdict overturned. Judge Penney Azcarate denied a request for a new trial by Heard's attorneys despite a mix-up in one of the seven jurors.
At the trial in Fairfax, Virginia, according to Heard's lawyers, a man sat on the jury, although his father had actually been summoned to serve on the jury. Both have the same name and live at the same address.
However, Judge Azcarate now said that the mix-up did not put Heard at a disadvantage. "There is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing." Both parties to the conflict would have accepted the jury. Azcarate said that all jurors honored their oath and the court's instructions.
At the internationally acclaimed civil trial in Fairfax near the US capital Washington, the jury largely sided with Depp at the beginning of June: They sentenced Heard to pay more than ten million dollars in damages to the star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. In return, Depp was sentenced to only pay two million dollars in damages to the actress known from films such as "Aquaman" and "The Danish Girl".
Depp sued Heard, to whom he was married between 2015 and 2017, for $50 million in damages. The reason was a contribution by Heard for the "Washington Post" from 2018, in which the actress described herself as a victim of domestic violence. The 36-year-old did not name her ex-husband; However, Depp argued that the allegation was clearly aimed at him and had seriously damaged his career. Heard responded with a counterclaim against the 59-year-old.
