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Actor Johnny Depp is accusing his ex-wife Amber Heard of not donating her divorce settlement to charity. Depp believes this justifies his pursuits to appeal the ruling from his libel court case where The Sun described him as a “wife-beater.” The Sun streamed the video internationally on YouTube with more than 3,000 viewers.
Justice Andrew Nicol’s verdict stated the description of Depp as a “wife-beater” was “substantially true.” The trial ruled that Depp assaulted Heard, which was brought to court from a series of domestic violence allegations. After the trial, Nichol stated that an appeal would be unlikely. Depp argued that the “calculated and manipulative lie” by Heard warrants an appeal in the libel lawsuit.
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During the trial in the UK High Court, Heard stated she donated the entire seven million in the divorce settlement to the American Civil Liberties Union and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Depp argues that Heard’s alleged lie misled and “tipped the scales” during the trial against The Sun. News Group’s lawyers cited the donation as evidence so Heard would not be labeled as a “gold digger.”
Heard argued earlier this year that the donations were delayed due to Depp’s legal pursuits against her resulting in millions in legal fees. Depp’s leading attorney, Andrew Caldecott QC, argues that Heard’s credibility is now up for question in the original trial.
Adam Wolanski, a News Group representative, responded by asking why Depp and his team didn’t question the donation at the original trial. Wolanski defended Heard stating that she made payments and vowed the remaining payments would be completed. Also, Wolanski said the “gold digger” defense was a “misogynistic trope.”
Depp has yet to hear if the appeal against the defeated lawsuit has been accepted. At the end of the three-hour appeal process, Lord Justice Underhill stated the decision would be made shortly and delivered in writing.
Depp is suing Heard for defamation in a separate case for 50 million. The trial is to take place in April 2022. Heard is countersuing Depp for 100 million.
