UPDATED: Verdict Announced in Johnny Depp-Amber Heard Trial

UPDATED: Verdict Announced in Johnny Depp-Amber Heard Trial

A verdict has been reached in the trial of actors -- and former spouses -- Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard. 

The jury on Wednesday found on multiple counts that Heard defamed Depp in her 2018 Washington Post op-ed about domestic violence. 

Moreover, the jury found that Heard acted with malice. 

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While Heard was present in the courtroom on Wednesday, Depp was not present for the announcement. 

The jury awarded $15 million in damages -- which included $10 million in compensatory damages -- against Heard. 

The jury also found statements by Depp's attorney Alan Waldman were made with malice; the jury levied punitive damages against Depp for $2 million. 

"The disappointment I feel today is beyond words," said Heard in a statement read on CNN. "I'm more disappointed with what this decision means for other women."

 

About Trial 

Depp, II v. Heard (CL-2019-2911) was a defamation trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, that began on April 11, 2022. 

Plaintiff Depp made claim for three counts of defamation for $50 million in damages from defendant Amber Heard, who was counterclaiming $100 million. 

The parties are actors who were married from 2015 to 2017. 

Depp had been previously accused by Heard of domestic partner violence, and had sued his ex-wife in February 2019 over the op-ed she wrote which was published by The Washington Post in December 2018. 

He blamed Heard's op-ed for extensive financial losses to his career and claimed it damaged his ability to profit from his vocation.

 

PHOTO: Johnny Depp in 2020. CC 3.0/Harald Krichel