Verdict reached in Depp versus Heard trial
A verdict has been reached in the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial in Virginia, USA.
Coming out largely in Depp's favour, Heard must pay him a total of $US15 million ($20.8 million) in damages, the jury have decided.
However, as a result of her counterclaims, the jury said Depp must pay Heard $US2 million ($2.78 million).
The jury unanimously found that Depp was defamed by Heard's op-ed titled, "I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change".
They found the op-ed was about Depp despite him not being named in the piece. An exert read: "Then two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out."
The jury also agreed that Heard acted with malice and further stated that she also made a defamatory statement when she said, "I had the rare vantage point of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse."
The jury then addressed Heard's countersuit, and supported one of her claims of defamation. In total, Heard was found to have been defamatory to Depp in all three of his claims, but Depp was only found to be defamatory in one of Heard's three counterclaims.
The verdict was read out in the Virginia courtroom about 3:20 pm on Wednesday (5:20 am on Thursday AEST) but prior, after they first reached a decision, the judge asked for them to leave the court and fill out a form.
Heard was present in the courtroom, and showed little to no reaction as the verdict was read out. Depp was not present at the time of the verdict.
Depp's awarded damages total to $US15 million (approx. $20.8 million), but are comprised of $US10 million (approx. $14 million) in compensatory damages and $US5 million (approx. $7 million) in punitive damages.
Under state law in Virginia, however, the maximum amount of punitive damages that can be paid is $US350,000 (approx. $490,000), which means Depp's ultimate monetary award is $US10.35 million (approx. $14.4 million).
Image: Getty