Johnny Depp wins defamation trial against Amber Heard, awarded over $10m in damages

Johnny Depp, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, greeted patrons at a Newcastle pub in England about one hour before the jury in his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard reached a verdict.

"Surreal to have met this man an hour before the verdict came in for him and I'm so pleased he's in my home town of Newcastle able to relax, celebrate and enjoy himself," wrote Gary Spedding, who posted the picture of Depp on Twitter.

Newcastle is in northeast England and a few miles from Gateshead, where Depp is scheduled to perform with guitarist Jeff Beck Thursday night as part of a music tour.

Depp wasn't in the courtroom Wednesday when the jury awarded him more than $10 million in damages finding that his ex-wife had defamed him by calling him an abuser in a 2018 op-ed.

The panel also found in Heard's favor as to one of her claims in her countersuit, awarding her $2 million.

The jury in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial delivered a verdict on Wednesday and awarded the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star with $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

Judge Penney Azcarate reduced Depp's punitive damages award from $5 million to $350,000 – the maximum under Virginia law, bringing the total sum to just over $10 million. 

Both parties issued separate statements following the news. "The disappointment I feel today is beyond words," Heard's statement said. "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.

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FAIRFAX, Va. – Court watchers waiting outside the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial responded to the jury's verdict announced Wednesday.

"Shock, happiness," one woman, Nuha, told Fox News as she wiped away tears. "I never thought he'd win, so this is amazing."

The jury awarded Depp more than $10 million in the defamation lawsuit he'd filed against his ex-wife. The Pirates of the Caribbean star said Heard, who received $2 million for her own accusations, defamed him when she wrote in a 2018 op-ed that she was a victim of domestic abuse.

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Johnny Depp fans erupted in cheers as his lead lawyers, Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez, exited the courthouse and gave a brief statement.

"Today's verdict confirms what we had said from the beginning that the claims against Johnny Depp are defamatory and unsupported by any evidence We are grateful, so grateful to the jury for their careful deliberation, to the judge and the court staff," Vasquez said.

Chew said his team was "truly honored" to represent Depp and "pleased the trial resonated for so many people in the public who value truth and justice."

After Johnny Depp won his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard, he released the following statement through his publicist.

"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 traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my 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 and the Sheriffs who have sacrificed their own time to get to this point, and to my diligent and 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. "

In a sweeping victory for Johnny Depp, the seven-member panel found in the actor's favor on all counts and awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

In a token win for Amber Heard, the jury found that a single statement in her countersuit was defamatory and awarded her $2 million in compensatory damages and nothing in punitive damages.

The verdict indicates that the jury did not believe Depp had abused Heard. Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the $5 million punitive damages sum to $350,000 -- the maximum allowed under Virginia law.

Heard, flanked by her sister, ducked out of the courthouse without speaking to the press after the devastating loss.

Amber Heard released a statement through her publicist shortly following the jury's decision to award her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, $15 million in damages in his defamation case against the "Aquaman" actress.

“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," Heard said in her statement.

"I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously," she continued.

"I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK," Heard noted. "I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly.”

The jury also found in favor of Amber Heard in her countersuit against Johnny Depp, awarding her $2 million in compensatory damages.

In a sweeping victory Wednesday, Johnny Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and another $5 million in punitive damages.

Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the punitive damages sum to $350,000 -- the maximum allowed under Virginia law.

Johnny Depp won his defamation case against Amber Heard in a sweeping victory.

The seven-panel jury found in Depp's favor on each defamation allegation. Heard wore a stoic expression, as the verdict was read in court.

The seven-member panel entered the courtroom.

Judge Penney Azcarate informed the jury that they must enter the damages portion of the verdict form, indicating the amount each side should be awarded. She then sent them back to the deliberation room.

The omission suggests that the jury found there were defamatory statements on at least one side.

Heard, wearing all black, wore a somber expression. Johnny Depp is on tour in the UK with guitarist Jeff Beck.

Dozens of Depp supporters showed up after news of the verdict went out and gathered in front of the courthouse.

Amber Heard is in the courtroom waiting to hear the jury's decision. Johnny Depp is not. Her sister, Whitney Henriquez Heard, sat behind her in the front row of the gallery.

A source close to Johnny Depp confirmed he will not be present for the verdict.

"Due to previously scheduled work commitments made before the trial, Mr. Depp will not be physically present for today's 3 p.m. verdict and will be watching from the United Kingdom," the source said.

Depp, 58, has been touring with guitarist Jeff Beck in England and has performed three shows since the jury began deliberations Friday.

Heard is en route to the courthouse.

"Your presence shows where your priorities are," said a spokesperson for Heard. "Johnny Depp plays guitar in the UK while Amber Heard waits for a verdict in Virginia. Depp is taking his snickering and lack of seriousness on tour."

The CEO of Herald PR, Juda Engelmayer, who represents Harvey Weinstein, said it was a bad look for Depp.

“He’s already assuming he’s won, and it shows complete arrogance," Engelmayer told Fox News Digital.

“It’s like he thinks he's a rock star and above it all. I would have urged him to get back here, or at the very least, told him to stay out of the public eye."

The verdict won't be announced until 3 p.m. The panel of seven jurors took a short lunch break that ended at 12:45 p.m.

Amber Heard is expected to be present, while Johnny Depp is not. The jurors deliberated for nearly 13 hours over three days.

The seven-member panel will be on lunch break until 12:45 p.m.

Monica Lewinsky weighed in on the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial in an op-ed Tuesday, calling it "courtroom porn and a "pure car wreck."

"We have become so attuned to this narrow, cynical cycle of social media encounters that we consider the trial not tragic or pathetic, but as a pure car wreck: accessible, tawdry, and immediately gratifying," she wrote of Fairfax County Circuit Court civil trial in Virginia that has been live-streamed on almost every major media outlet. 

She called the seven-week spectacle "courtroom porn" that the public now consumes through biased social media feeds in the Vanity Fair piece.

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The panel of seven members started its third day of deliberations Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.

They got the case on Friday but only spent two hours weighing the matter before they were sent home for the long weekend.

They returned on Tuesday and slogged away for another seven hours before informing the court they were ready to go home for the night.

Supermodel Kate Moss attended Johnny Depp's rock concert Tuesday in London, as he awaits a verdict in his $50 million defamation suit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, a source confirmed. 

It was Depp's third performance alongside legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, and he invited Moss as his guest, according to the source. 

Photos posted online show Depp on stage rocking out Tuesday — one day after receiving a standing ovation at the same venue.

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The jury hasn't reached a verdict after more than nine hours of deliberations over two days. They will resume weighing the case Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.