Johnny Depp loses ‘wife beater’ libel case against The Sun

Johnny Depp has lost his libel claim against the publishers of The Sun over an article calling him a “wife beater”.

Three months after the high profile three-week trial, Judge Justice Nicol has now ruled that the tabloid was justified in reporting that Depp was violent towards ex-wife Amber Heard on at least one occasion during their relationship.

The newspaper published a column titled “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?” in April 2018, written by their executive editor Dan Wootton.

In his ruling, the judge said that while Depp “proved the necessary elements of his cause of action in libel”, News Group Newspapers (NGN) showed that what they published “in the meaning which I have held the words to bear was substantially true”.

Following the ruling from the judge, a spokesman for The Sun said: “The Sun has stood up and campaigned for the victims of domestic abuse for over 20 years. Domestic abuse victims must never be silenced and we thank the judge for his careful consideration and thank Amber Heard for her courage in giving evidence to the court.”

Depp has always strenuously denied claims he was violent towards Heard in any way.

UK law means the Hollywood star had to prove he had suffered “serious harm” to his reputation through the publication of the article, while The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) had to prove what they reported was true on the balance of probabilities.

Depp’s lawyers had argued that various factors – including his presentation in the article alongside disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein – meant that “only a very substantial award” would compensate and vindicate him.

In practice, there is a limit of £325,000 ($415,000) on general damages, however additional compensation can be added for “aggravating” factors.

One such factor cited by Depp’s team was the fact The Sun retained the article on its website throughout.

NGN had relied on 14 separate allegations of domestic violence, dated between early 2013 and May 2016, in its defence to Depp’s claim.

These accounts were combed through in court in forensic detail, with Heard as the paper’s star witness.

Alleged incidents included a private flight from Boston to LA, during which Depp was said to have slapped and kicked Heard before passing out in the toilet; a fight dubbed “disco bloodbath”, and what Heard claimed was a “three-day hostage situation” in Australia.

Depp’s team had countered the claims, alleging Heard was in fact violent towards him, playing recordings in which she could be heard saying she had “hit” the 57-year-old actor.

One particularly contentious issue was the severing of the tip of Depp’s middle finger during the trip to Australia: he alleged this happened when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him, she said he injured himself while smashing a phone.

However, both agreed that following the argument, Depp dipped his wounded finger in paint and scrawled graffiti on mirrors and walls in the house.

The three-week High Court trial attracted worldwide attention, with both Depp and Heard temporarily moving from their respective homes in France and America to attend the court in central London throughout.

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During the hearing, the court was told of Depp’s extensive use of drink and drugs, read texts in which he called his ex-wife a “witch” and suggested burning her, and shown videos of him punching and hitting kitchen cupboards.

Evidence given was not only damaging to Depp – the actor claimed Heard, 34, had “extra-marital affairs” with high-profile figures such as SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and actor James Franco. Heard denied having any affairs while she was in the relationship.

Previously unreleased reality TV footage of Heard’s sister Whitney being questioned about a historic “altercation” with her elder sibling was also played to the court, and Depp’s team alleged Heard had changed key dates in her evidence in a bid to manipulate the case, frequently accusing her of “making things up as she went along”.

As the trial drew to a close, Heard stood outside on the steps of the High Court and said she stood by her evidence and would “place her faith in British justice”.

Depp and Heard met on the set of 2011 comedy The Rum Diary and married in February 2015.

In May 2016, Heard obtained a restraining order against the star after accusing him of abuse, which he denied.

They settled their divorce out of court in 2017, with Heard donating her $7m (£5.5m) settlement to charity.