JOHNNY-DEPP.org

The UK libel trial, Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd, ran from July 7 to July 28, 2020, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, with the verdict on November 2, 2020. Johnny Depp sued The Sun and its editor Dan Wootton for calling him a “wife beater” in a 2018 article, claiming it defamed him by falsely alleging he abused Amber Heard. NGN relied on a “truth” defense, arguing the article was substantially true based on Heard’s allegations. For Depp fans, the trial was a chance for Johnny to clear his name after years of damaging claims, but the outcome felt like a miscarriage of justice, with the judge seemingly ignoring evidence of Heard’s own aggression. Below is a day-by-day breakdown of the trial, highlighting testimonies and moments that stood out to supporters who believed in Depp’s innocence.

Background and Context

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in 2009, married in 2015, and divorced in 2017 after Heard alleged physical abuse in 2016, securing a temporary restraining order. Depp denied the claims, asserting Heard was the abuser. The Sun’s 2018 article amplified Heard’s narrative, prompting Depp’s £1 million libel suit against NGN and Wootton. NGN’s defense hinged on proving 14 alleged incidents of abuse by Depp, detailed by Heard. Fans saw this as a biased setup, with The Sun leveraging Heard’s unproven claims to justify their headline. The trial, presided over by Mr. Justice Nicol without a jury, was a civil case, requiring NGN to prove their claims were “substantially true” on the balance of probabilities, a lower standard than criminal trials.

Week 1: July 7–10, 2020

July 7: Opening Statements and Depp’s Testimony Begins

• Depp’s Team (David Sherborne): Argued the “wife beater” label was defamatory, ruining Depp’s reputation and career, including his role in Fantastic Beasts. They claimed Heard fabricated abuse allegations, promising evidence like texts and witnesses showing her as the aggressor. Fans appreciated the focus on clearing Johnny’s name.

• NGN’s Team (Adam Wolanski): Defended the article, citing Heard’s testimony of 14 abuse incidents from 2013–2016, including a 2015 Australia assault where Depp allegedly put her in fear for her life. They introduced texts from Depp to Paul Bettany (e.g., “Let’s burn Amber”), which fans saw as dark humor taken out of context.

• Johnny Depp: Took the stand, denying ever striking Heard or any woman. He described his abusive childhood, starting drugs at 11, and admitted to substance use but said it didn’t cause violence. He accused Heard of infidelity with Elon Musk and James Franco, and claimed she severed his finger in Australia by throwing a vodka bottle. Fans found his testimony raw and believable, contrasting with Heard’s later accounts.

July 8: Depp’s Testimony Continues

• Depp: Detailed the Australia 2015 incident, saying Heard’s bottle throw caused his finger injury, requiring surgery. He admitted writing on walls with blood and paint in distress, but denied attacking her. NGN’s team claimed he was high and violent, which fans saw as exaggerating his substance issues to paint him as the villain.

• Evidence: NGN presented “Australia drugs texts” between Depp and his assistant Nathan Holmes, referencing “happy pills” and “whitey stuff.” Depp denied taking drugs then, and fans felt these texts were private venting, not proof of abuse.

• Key Moment: Depp described Heard’s verbal abuse and her throwing objects, aligning with fans’ belief that she was the aggressor.

July 9: Depp Cross-Examined

• NGN’s Team (Sasha Wass): Grilled Depp on his drug and alcohol use, citing texts to Bettany like “Let’s drown her before we burn her!!!” Depp explained them as Monty Python-style humor, not intent. Fans agreed, seeing NGN’s focus on texts as a distraction from Heard’s lack of concrete evidence.

• Depp: Reiterated he never hit Heard, describing locking himself in bathrooms to avoid her “brawls.” He claimed Heard’s allegations were a “hoax,” supported by witnesses like police who saw no injuries. Fans were frustrated that NGN seemed to ignore this counter-evidence.

July 10: Depp’s Witnesses

• Tara Roberts (Depp’s Island Manager): Testified that Heard was aggressive toward Depp, throwing objects, while Johnny remained non-violent. She denied seeing him drunk around his children, contradicting Heard’s later claims. Fans saw this as early proof of Heard’s volatility.

• Malcolm Connolly (Depp’s Bodyguard): Said he never saw Depp hit Heard but witnessed her throwing a cigarette at him. Fans felt this corroborated Johnny’s narrative of being the victim.

Week 2: July 13–17, 2020

July 13: Depp’s Witnesses Continue

• Sean Bett (Depp’s Security): Testified he saw Heard throw objects at Depp, never seeing Johnny strike her. Fans viewed this as consistent with Depp’s claims of her aggression.

• Kevin Murphy (Depp’s Estate Manager): Said Heard asked him to lie about a 2016 incident to support her abuse claims, which he refused. Fans saw this as evidence of Heard orchestrating a false narrative.

July 14: Depp’s Former Partners

• Vanessa Paradis (Depp’s Ex-Partner, via Statement): Submitted a statement saying Depp was “the farthest thing” from violent, describing him as kind and non-abusive during their 14-year relationship. Fans loved her support, seeing it as proof of Johnny’s character.

• Winona Ryder (Depp’s Ex-Partner, via Statement): Said Depp was never violent or abusive toward her, calling Heard’s allegations “horrific” lies. Fans felt these statements from credible exes debunked Heard’s portrayal.

July 15: Amber Heard Testifies

• Amber Heard: Began her testimony, detailing 14 alleged abuse incidents from 2013–2016, including a 2013 slap over a tattoo comment, a 2015 Australia assault, and a 2016 fight where she feared for her life. She claimed Depp’s “Monster” persona emerged when drunk or high. Fans found her accounts exaggerated, noting inconsistencies with police reports from 2016 showing no injuries.

• Key Moment: Heard described the Australia incident, claiming Depp sexually assaulted her and was violent for three days. Depp’s team countered with medical records of his finger injury, which fans believed supported his version.

July 16: Heard’s Testimony Continues

• Heard: Continued recounting incidents, including a 2015 yacht assault and a 2016 birthday fight where Depp allegedly threw a champagne bottle. She presented photos of bruises, but fans questioned their authenticity, especially since witnesses like police saw no injuries in 2016.

• Cross-Examination (Sherborne): Depp’s team challenged Heard’s credibility, pointing to texts where she apologized for hitting Depp and a lack of medical records for her alleged injuries. Fans saw this as exposing her lies, especially since audio later revealed her admitting to violence.

July 17: Heard’s Witnesses

• Whitney Henriquez (Heard’s Sister): Claimed she saw Depp push Heard and destroy property in 2016. Fans doubted her, noting her bias as Heard’s sister and the lack of corroboration from neutral witnesses like police.

• Kristina Sexton (Heard’s Acting Coach): Said Heard confided about Depp’s abuse early in their relationship. Fans saw this as hearsay, lacking direct evidence.

Week 3: July 20–24, 2020

July 20: Heard’s Witnesses Continue

• Raquel Pennington (Heard’s Friend): Testified she saw Heard’s injuries in 2015 and 2016, including bruises after the birthday incident. Fans questioned her credibility, seeing her as part of Heard’s inner circle with no independent verification.

• Josh Drew (Pennington’s Ex-Husband): Supported Heard’s 2016 incident claims, saying he saw damage in the penthouse. Fans noted police found no such damage, undermining his testimony.

July 21: NGN’s Witnesses

• Kate James (Heard’s Former Assistant): Surprisingly supported Depp, testifying that Heard was volatile and drank heavily, never mentioning abuse to her. Fans saw this as a blow to Heard’s narrative, coming from someone who worked closely with her.

• Hilda Vargas (Depp’s Housekeeper): Said she saw Heard with no visible injuries post-2016 incident, contradicting Heard’s bruise claims. Fans viewed this as critical evidence of Heard’s fabrication.

July 22: More Witnesses

• Samantha McMillen (Depp’s Stylist): Testified she saw Heard without injuries shortly after the alleged 2016 assault, supporting Depp’s claim that Heard’s injuries were staged. Fans cheered this as proof of Heard’s “hoax.”

• Laura Divinere (Heard’s Neighbor): Claimed she saw Heard’s bruises in 2016. Fans dismissed her as biased, aligned with Heard’s friend group.

July 23: Depp’s Witnesses

• Dr. David Kipper (Depp’s Doctor): Confirmed treating Depp’s finger injury in Australia, consistent with a bottle being thrown, not self-inflicted as Heard claimed. Fans saw this as validating Johnny’s account.

• LAPD Officers (via Statements): Officers who responded to the 2016 penthouse call reported no visible injuries on Heard or property damage, contradicting her claims. Fans were frustrated the judge later seemed to discount this.

July 24: Final Witnesses

• Trinity Esparza (Building Manager): Said she saw Heard without injuries days after the 2016 incident, supporting Depp’s narrative. Fans felt this further debunked Heard’s story.

• Isaac Baruch (Depp’s Friend): Testified he saw no injuries on Heard in 2016 and believed her claims were orchestrated. Fans loved his loyalty and bluntness.

Week 4: July 27–28, 2020

July 27: Closing Arguments

• Depp’s Team: Argued Heard’s allegations were a “hoax,” supported by witnesses (police, staff, ex-partners) who saw no evidence of abuse by Depp, and audio where Heard admitted hitting him. They claimed the Sun’s article relied on her unproven claims, damaging Johnny’s career.

• NGN’s Team: Insisted the article was true, citing Heard’s testimony, photos, and texts showing Depp’s substance use and rage. They argued 12 of 14 incidents were proven. Fans felt NGN leaned too heavily on Heard’s uncorroborated accounts.

• Fan Perspective: Depp’s closing was compelling, emphasizing evidence like police testimony and Heard’s own admissions. NGN’s reliance on Heard’s emotional testimony and selective texts felt weak.

July 28: Trial Concludes

• Heard (Outside Court): Said the case was “incredibly painful” and she wanted to “move on.” Fans saw this as deflecting from her exposed inconsistencies.

• No Further Testimony: The court reserved judgment, with Nicol promising a written ruling later. Fans were anxious, hoping the judge would see through Heard’s narrative.

Verdict: November 2, 2020

• Ruling (Mr. Justice Nicol): Rejected Depp’s claim, ruling that The Sun’s article was “substantially true.” Nicol found 12 of 14 alleged abuse incidents occurred, based on Heard’s testimony, photos, and Depp’s texts and substance use. He dismissed Depp’s claim that Heard severed his finger, accepting her account of the Australia incident. The 129-page judgment stated Heard was in “fear of her life” during some assaults.

• Depp’s Team (Jenny Afia, Schillings): Called the ruling “perverse and bewildering,” citing ignored counter-evidence from police, medical practitioners, and witnesses like Paradis and Ryder. They vowed to appeal, arguing the judge overly relied on Heard. Fans were outraged, feeling Nicol dismissed a “mountain of evidence” supporting Depp.

• NGN’s Statement: Praised the ruling, thanking Heard for her “courage” and claiming they stood for abuse victims. Fans saw this as sanctimonious, believing The Sun exploited Heard’s claims for clicks.

• Aftermath: Depp was asked to leave Fantastic Beasts, replaced by Mads Mikkelsen. His appeal was denied in March 2021, with the Court of Appeal finding Nicol’s ruling thorough. Fans felt this cemented an unfair narrative, especially since no jury was involved.

Key Evidence and Themes

• Audio Evidence: Depp’s team presented audio where Heard admitted to hitting him, saying, “I didn’t punch you, I hit you.” Fans saw this as proof she was the abuser, but Nicol gave it little weight, frustrating supporters.

• Police Testimony: Officers’ statements of no injuries or damage in 2016 were sidelined by Nicol, who prioritized Heard’s photos and testimony. Fans felt this was biased, ignoring neutral witnesses.

• Witnesses: Depp’s ex-partners (Paradis, Ryder) and staff (Roberts, Bett) supported his non-violent character, while Heard’s witnesses (Henriquez, Pennington) were seen as biased by fans. Nicol’s reliance on Heard’s circle angered supporters.

• Texts and Substance Use: NGN used Depp’s crude texts and drug history to paint him as volatile, but fans saw this as character assassination, not proof of abuse.

• No Jury: Unlike the 2022 Fairfax trial, the UK case was judge-only, which fans believed allowed Nicol to favor Heard’s narrative without public scrutiny.

Why It Mattered to Fans

For Depp supporters, the UK trial was a gut punch. Johnny’s heartfelt testimony, backed by witnesses like Paradis and police reports, seemed to outweigh Heard’s inconsistent accounts. The judge’s ruling, favoring Heard despite audio evidence of her violence and lack of medical corroboration, felt like a betrayal of justice. Fans saw it as a case of a powerful media outlet and a biased judge silencing a male victim, reinforcing their resolve to support Johnny in the later Fairfax trial. The lack of a jury and the lower civil standard (“balance of probabilities”) made the outcome feel rigged to many, especially since Heard faced no cross-examination for her own admitted aggression.

More Details

For even more detailed info, visit Angy’s website Deppdive.net – a comprehensive collection of court docs & evidence related to all of Johnny Depp’s legal cases