Johnny Depp wins defamation case: Here's the timeline of Johnny Depp & Amber Heard’s trial

The verdict of the Johnny Depp- Amber Heard case which had the entire world glued to it, is finally out and Depp has won. The jury has also asked Amber to give Depp $15 million. It all began in 2018 when things got ugly when the Aquaman actress wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post. Here is how it all played out until the verdict was announced.

In 2018, Depp sued Heard for defamation after she wrote the op-ed in 2018. In the op-ed she referred to herself as a public figure who was representing domestic abuse. Depp was seeking $50 million which was then countersued by Heard for $100 million.

The case was heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Va., which began in early April and finally reached a verdict on June 1.

Heard and Depp accused each other of domestic violence and Depp also alleged that Heard’s false charges had led to a sizeable loss in movie roles. Heard had also accused Depp for “cavity searching” her and penetrating her with a liquor bottle.

Depp had hired a clinical forensic psychologist who shared that Heard had a history of borderline personality disorders. However, there was another report which claimed that the actress had the personality disorder due to intimate partner violence inflicted by Depp.

There were audio recordings played in the court where Heard admitted that she had hit the actor but not punched him. A text too was shown where Depp name-called her and wanted her “dead”.

This was one of the disgusting facts that came out of the trial where Depp attested that Heard had pooped on his side of the bed. Heard although denied the allegation and said that it was their dog’s doing not hers.

During the hearing, Depp’s ex, Kate Moss denied that she was pushed down the staircase by Depp. She in fact cleared the air that Depp had ever committed any acts of violence when they were in a relationship.

From Heard’s witnesses, her sister testified that Depp had physically abused her. She also recalled an incident when he had grabbed her “by the hair with one hand and was whacking her repeatedly in the face with the other hand”. The actress’ makeup artist as well had testified that she would often hide her injuries with heavy makeup and she did so right before the actress had to appear on The Late Late Show With James Corden in December 2015.

According to a CNN report, which came out on May27, for six weeks straight, the jury had to hear 100 hours of testimony from witnesses of both sides who would give contradicting statements of the couple’s private lives.

After the final verdict was given in Depp's favour, Heard issued dueling statements on social media. The actress wrote a note which read “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband. I'm even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously."

Depp, who won the defamation case and was awarded $15 million in damages, breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the jury for “giving his life back”. He wrote: “Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people, who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed. All in the blink of an eye. False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me.

"It had already travelled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and career.

And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled. My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought.

"From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that. I am, and have been, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and the colossal support and kindness from around the world.

"I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up. I also hope that the position will now return to innocent until proven guilty, both within the courts and in the media.

"I wish to acknowledge the noble work of the Judge, the jurors, the court staff & the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, & to my diligent & unwavering legal team who did an extraordinary job in helping me to share the truth.

"The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun. Veritas numquam perit. Truth never perishes.”

Read also: Cricketer Deepak Chahar gets married; here are all the details

Read also: How to tell your partner you've cheated in the most sensitive manner