Amber Heard v. Johnny Depp: 4 Of The Biggest Developments In Their Legal Battle This Year

Johnny Depp’s $50 million lawsuit against Amber Heard will continue after the coronavirus pandemic. The former “Pirates of the Caribbean” star claims the “Aquaman” actress cost him his lead role in the franchise by painting him to be a “woman-beater,” when he was actually the victim of domestic violence. Here’s a look at the biggest details that have been revealed about the case so far this year.

Confessions

Beginning in January, a series of recordings made as a part of their marital therapy prior to their 2017 divorce, were leaked. In a number of the tapes, Heard admits to assaulting Depp on multiple occasions with her hands, a door and objects such as pots and pans.

“I'm sorry that I didn't, uh, uh, hit you across the face in a proper slap, but I was hitting you, it was not punching you. Babe, you're not punched,” Heard told Depp in a 2015 tape obtained by Daily Mail. “I don't know what the motion of my actual hand was, but you're fine, I did not hurt you, I did not punch you, I was hitting you.”

“The Charlie and The Chocolate Factory” star can also be heard on the tape admitting to violence.

“I left last night. Honestly, I swear to you because I just couldn't take the idea of more physicality, more physical abuse on each other,” Depp pleaded in a recording “Because had we continued it, it would have gotten [expletive] bad. And baby, I told you this once. I'm scared to death we are a [expletive] crime scene right now.'

In response, Heard said, “I can't promise you I won't get physical again. God, I [expletive] sometimes get so mad I lose it.”

Trial Is Postponed

As mentioned previously, the defamation case will head to trial after the coronavirus frenzy passes. Depp reportedly had the meeting adjourned as a result of the pandemic.

However, Heard’s team believes the actor’s reason for postponing the court appearance stems from fear.

“Today’s decision leaves it to a jury to decide the meaning of Ms. Heard’s op-ed and the truth of what she said. As we have said, the courts have strong mechanisms in place for determining the truth. Here, we remain confident that Ms. Heard will prevail at trial when the jury is presented with evidence on the question that the Court identified – namely, whether ‘Ms. Heard was abused by Mr. Depp,’” they told Deadline.

Court Overrules Heard’s Attempt To Dismiss Lawsuit

Heard attempted to dismiss her ex-husband’s $50 million defamation case this year. However, Judge Bruce D. White wrote a letter overruling the motion.

The statement read that Depp has met the requirements to “plead allegations of an implied defamatory meaning, that is, in fact, defamatory, as well as circumstances that would reasonably cause the statements at issue to convey an alleged defamatory meaning,” The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Jail Time

Following Heard’s abuse allegations, Depp claimed that she “painted on bruises” in order to have a temporary restraining order put in place.

According to Page Six, Depp stated in court papers, “I have denied Ms. Heard’s allegations vehemently since she first made them in May 2016 when she walked into court to obtain a temporary restraining order with painted-on bruises that witnesses and surveillance footage show she did not possess each day of the preceding week. I will continue to deny them for the rest of my life. I never abused Ms. Heard or any other woman.”

One of the witnesses includes Heard’s celebrity stylist, Samantha McMillen. In 2015, Heard accused Depp of giving her two black eyes during an argument that occurred the night before her appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”

“Throughout the day of December 16, 2015, I could see clearly that Amber Heard did not have any visible marks, bruises, cuts, or injuries to her face or any other part of her bod,” McMillen said.

If the court finds Heard guilty of faking her injuries, she could spend up to three years behind bars.