Human Interest

Depp loses libel case against The Sun newspaper

London, Nov 2 (efe-epa).- Johnny Depp has lost a libel case against the publishers of The Sun newspaper over an article which referred to him as a “wife beater”.

The American actor, 57, had sued the News Group Newspapers and its executive editor Dan Wootton after the 2018 article claimed he had been physically abusive to ex-wife Amber Heard.

The trial was heard at the High Court in London over 16 days in July.

In the judgment published Monday, judge Justice Nicol said NGN had proved the contents of the article to be “substantially true”.

The original article was entitled “GONE POTTY How Can J K Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?”

Nicol added: “I have found that the great majority of alleged assaults of Ms Heard by Mr Depp have been proved to the civil standard.”

Soon after the ruling, a spokesperson for The Sun newspaper said: “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.”

A similar case is set to be heard in the United States.

Lawyer Elaine Charlson Bredehoft, a member of Heard’s defense team in the US, made a statement following Monday’s verdict in the United Kingdom.

“For those of us present for the London High Court trial, this decision and judgment are not a surprise,” she said.

“Very soon, we will be presenting even more voluminous evidence in the US.

“We are committed to obtaining justice for Amber Heard in the US court and defending Ms Heard’s right to free speech.”

The UK trial generated huge media coverage as details of the former married couple’s relationship were made public. EFE-EPA

prc/jt/rb

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