Amber Heard
A juror comments on Johnny Depp’s trial
© ZUMA Wire / Dana Press
After the verdict in Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against Amber Heard, a jury has spoken for the first time.
The public trial between Johnny Depp, 59, and Amber Heard, 36, has made headlines for weeks. A juror now reports the jury’s view of the case and trial.
Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard: A juror speaks for the first time
Heard’s tears during the hearing were “crocodile tears,” the juror said on Good Morning America: “It didn’t come across as believable. It seemed like she was able to flip a switch on her emotions. She answered a question and cried and two seconds later she was freezing again. It didn’t seem natural.”
The juror is the first and only person to comment on the trial, but doesn’t want his name in the media. According to him, Heard’s credibility not only suffered from her behavior during the statements.
Jury criticizes Heard’s legal team
“The fact is, she didn’t reveal much at all,” says the juror. “It was disingenuous.” He also accused Heard’s legal team of giving her bad advice — like looking directly at the jury when answering the questions. “We all felt very uncomfortable.”
Heard was viewed by the majority of the jury as the aggressor in the relationship, says the jury member. So he wonders why she gave Depp, whom she portrayed as aggressive, a knife. Or, “If she really wanted to help Johnny Depp get off drugs, why was she doing drugs around him?”
Skepticism in dealing with witness statements
The jury also states that the jury was very skeptical about the evidence and witnesses presented. The jury would have rejected all statements by employees, relatives or friends. Just like the assessments of experts who had been paid for by either party.
He further reports that none of the jury was a fan of the two acting stars. He also denies having been influenced by social media. “The allegations were very serious and involved a lot of money, so we didn’t take it lightly.”
Heard fined $10.35 million
Heard published an article in the Washington Post in 2018 in which she wrote about being a victim of domestic violence. Although she did not mention Depp’s name at the time, the Hollywood star sued her for $ 50 million (about 46.7 million euros) in damages. In his opinion, his career suffered greatly as a result of the publication of the article.
The jury found Amber Heard guilty of defamation. The penalty was $15 million, but due to laws in Virginia, where the trial took place, Heard is only fined $10.35 million. Depp was also fined $2 million. The jury found that a former lawyer for Depp slandered the actress.
Source used: goodmorningamerica.com