[imagesource: Mega]

With the exception of the Judge’s ruling in the Johnny Depp libel trial against The Sun, we have reached the end of the sordid drama.

The past few weeks have felt like months, and if you’ve been keeping up with things, you’ll know that the testimony outlining events in Depp and Heard’s marriage is the stuff of nightmares.

A lot of it is just repulsive, like the graphic descriptions of Depp in his own bodily fluids and his creative uses for meat, much of which was rehashed in the closing arguments against Depp delivered on Monday.

Then there’s the abuse. No one seems to be able to decide who abused who and to what degree.

Bizarre recordings of private interactions provided some clues, none of which explained why there were recordings in the first place.

Heard, on the other hand, has been described as “unhinged”, a theme that was continued in the closing arguments from Depp’s legal team yesterday.

While we wait for Judge Andrew Nicol to issue his verdict, let’s hand over to Sky News for a summary of the closing.

In the final day of speeches and submissions, Depp’s barrister David Sherborne told the court that Heard’s “lack of” credibility was key to the case, drawing on several examples – including the unexpected introduction of Kate Moss into the case.

Mr Sherborne described Heard’s revelation that Depp previously pushed British supermodel Moss down the stairs as an act of “unscripted malevolence”.

Okay, Kate Moss is involved now. She joins the ranks of other unwitting celebrities dragged into the proceedings including James Franco, Elon Musk, and Cara Delevingne.

Depp’s lawyer, David Sherborne, told the court that there were numerous examples that could introduce reasonable doubt into Heard’s statements.

Heard said that she remembered being told that Depp had shoved Moss down the stairs, at a moment when she believed that he was about to push her sister, Whitney (below), down the stairs. She responded by hitting him.

“The unchallenged fact,” said Sherborne, whatever Heard’s claims, is that “Mr Depp has never hit another woman in his life”.

The topic of shifting dates has been brought up throughout the case, with both Heard and her sister Whitney, who also gave evidence, both shifting the dates of the so-called “Disco Bloodbath” incident.

This was an alleged incident which is said to have occurred after a dispute over a painting by Heard’s ex-partner Tasya van Ree.

Heard has said during this fight Depp hit her “so hard that blood from her lip ended up on the wall.”

You’ll remember the painting incident from Heard’s testimony on the subject.

Heard first said that the painting incident happened on March 8, 2015, then later said that it happened on March 22 of the same year.

At the time, Depp was filming a documentary on The Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards, and the court was shown a photo with Depp, Heard, Whitney and Richards, which may have been taken the next day.

In his final arguments, Mr Sherborne also reiterated why it was that Depp had put himself through this “painful, public” process.

Finally. I think we’ve all wanted to know the answer to that question. The court case seemed to do more to damage his reputation than anything The Sun published.

He reminded the court that on 27 April 2018, The Sun published an article with the headline: “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?”

Employing court terminology, Mr Sherborne also said that in publishing the offending article, The Sun acted “as both judge and jury”, despite “no charge” being brought against Depp.

That headline…

Heard gave a speech outside the court saying that she just wanted to get on with her life.

This is a civil claim, which means that the burden of proof lies with the defendant to prove that Depp did indeed abuse his then-wife.

In order to issue a ruling, the judge needs to be persuaded that Depp committed at least one act of domestic violence, out of the 14 that The Sun is relying on.

Depp is seeking damages to the value of around £325 000 and additional “aggravated damages” which they say have “impacted on the claimant’s distress”.

All that’s left to do is await the verdict.

[source:skynews]