Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial: Closing arguments underway

Depp sued Heard for $50 million over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed she wrote in which she called herself “a public figure representing domestic abuse,” claiming it caused him to lose work. Heard has countersued for $100 million for defamation.

Camille Vasquez began presenting closing arguments for Depp on Friday.

“On May 27, 2016 Ms. Heard walked into a courthouse in Los Angeles, California, to get a no notice, ex-parte restraining order against Mr. Depp and in doing so, ruined his life by falsely telling the world that she was a survivor of domestic abuse at the hands of Mr. Depp,” Vasquez said. “Today, May 27, 2022 exactly six years later, we ask you to give Mr. Depp his life back by telling the world that Mr. Depp is not the abuser Ms. Heard said he is and hold Ms. Heard accountable for her lies.”

Attorneys Elaine Bredehoft and Ben Rottenborn are expected to give closing arguments for Heard.

Judge Penney Azcarate began the day by giving jurors instructions for their deliberations.

“You must not base your verdict in any way on sympathy, bias guesswork, or speculation,” Azcarate said. “Your verdict must be based solely upon the evidence and instructions of the court. Your verdict must be based on the facts as you find them and on the law that you find in all of these instructions.”

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