By Cynthia Akande
Hollywood actor, Johnny Depp won all three defamation counts in his case brought against ex-wife Amber Heard, over her 2018 op-ed about coming forward with domestic abuse allegations.
The jury awarded $10 million to Depp in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
The seven-member panel, composed of five men and two women, also ruled in favor of Heard, in part, finding that Depp had defamed her through his attorney. They awarded her $2 million in compensatory damages.
After closing arguments from both sides were made on Friday, the jury entered deliberations and then resumed Tuesday morning after the Memorial Day holiday. Then on Wednesday afternoon, after more than 12 total hours of deliberations behind closed doors, the verdict was unanimously reached and read aloud in the Fairfax County, Virginia, courtroom.
Depp, 58, was not present for the reveal, instead watching from the UK, where he’s been performing rock concerts with Jeff Beck since Sunday night while Heard, 36, showed up in person for the verdict.
