Depp-Heard trial verdict: jury rules in favor of Johnny Depp

The jury in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial has ruled in favor of Johnny Depp, finding that a Washington Post editorial she wrote defamed her former husband.

She was awarded $2m.

Depp was not present for the verdict and watched from the UK. Heard was in the courtroom as the verdict was read out.

Heard left the court without comment. But the 36-year-old actor posted soon after on Twitter that she was heartbroken by the verdict.

Brett Turnbull at Turnbull Holcomb & Lemoine said the verdict reflected that the jury found only mutual name calling and false truths to have hurt the other, not physical or emotional mutual abuse.

Depp, in his final testimony to the jury last week, said the trial gave him a chance to clear his name in a way that he the UK trial never allowed.

Heard, in her counterclaim over statements Depp lawyer Adam Waldman made to the Daily Mail, said the trial has been an ordeal inflicted by an orchestrated smear campaign led by Depp.

Heard did not name Depp in the piece. The 58-year-old actor sued anyway, demanding $50m.