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Hollywood star Johnny Depp will find out next Monday if he has won his blockbuster libel battle against the publisher of The Sun newspaper after he was described as a “wife beater”.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor, 57, sued News Group Newspapers over a 2018 article by The Sun’s executive editor Dan Wootton, which called for him to be stripped of a leading film role.
The court battle this summer pitched Depp against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, over her allegations that he was repeatedly abusive and violent during their troubled marriage.
Depp said the claims were lies, which he said were concocted by Heard throughout their relationship in order for her to have a #MeToo story when when relationship ended.
However, Heard insisted Depp was a “monster” in their marriage, prone to violent outbursts when he was high on drugs and drunk.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on the first day
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on the first day
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Johnny Depp on the first day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN)
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Amber Heard with her sister Whitney Heard on the first day Johnny Depp’s libel case
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Johnny Depp wearing a face covering
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Johnny Depp (right) being cross-examined by Sasha Wass QC (left) before the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, at the High Court on 7 July
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Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case
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Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day
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Johnny Depp (L) arrives on the third day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July
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Photo showing Amber Heard injury alleged to have been caused by Johnny Depp
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An image Heard said was taken after this incident, showing a bruise on her arm.
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An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor
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Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp
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Amber Heard and Bianca Butti leave the Royal Courts of Justice on 9 July
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Amber Heard (R) arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July
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Amber Heard arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July
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Johnny Depp photo spilt ice cream photo referred to in court
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American actor Johnny Depp gestures to the media as he arrives at the High Court on 13 July
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Amber Heard’s pet teacup Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London
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One of the pictures shown in court
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Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 14 July
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Johnny Depp with injuries allegedly sustained from Amber Heard during an incident in Los Angeles
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Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London on 20 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 20 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Monday where she is due to give evidence against former husband Johnny Depp on 20 July
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Amber Heard image which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court on 20 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at Royal Courts of Justice on 21 July
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Amber Heard with a bruising on her face, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London
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Amber Heard being cross examined by Eleanor Laws QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London during a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July
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Amber Heard with a friend, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July
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Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton
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Video deposition of Amber Heard in US proceedings, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court
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Johnny Depp with a cast on his hand
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Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July
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Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 22 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Amber Heard with her girlfriend Bianca Butti arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on the first day
.Jeremy Selwyn
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on the first day
PA
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Johnny Depp on the first day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN)
AFP via Getty Images
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Amber Heard with her sister Whitney Heard on the first day Johnny Depp’s libel case
PA
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Johnny Depp wearing a face covering
AFP via Getty Images)
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Johnny Depp (right) being cross-examined by Sasha Wass QC (left) before the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, at the High Court on 7 July
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Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case
Reuters
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Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day
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AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
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Johnny Depp (L) arrives on the third day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July
AFP via Getty Images
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July
Reuters
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Photo showing Amber Heard injury alleged to have been caused by Johnny Depp
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An image Heard said was taken after this incident, showing a bruise on her arm.
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An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor
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Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp
PA
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Amber Heard and Bianca Butti leave the Royal Courts of Justice on 9 July
Getty Images
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Amber Heard (R) arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July
AFP via Getty Images
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July
AP
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Amber Heard arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July
AFP via Getty Images
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Johnny Depp photo spilt ice cream photo referred to in court
Amber Heard
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American actor Johnny Depp gestures to the media as he arrives at the High Court on 13 July
AP
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Amber Heard’s pet teacup Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London
PA
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One of the pictures shown in court
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Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 14 July
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Johnny Depp with injuries allegedly sustained from Amber Heard during an incident in Los Angeles
PA
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Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London on 20 July
Elizabeth Cook/PA
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 20 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Monday where she is due to give evidence against former husband Johnny Depp on 20 July
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Amber Heard image which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court on 20 July
PA
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Johnny Depp arrives at Royal Courts of Justice on 21 July
Getty Images
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Amber Heard with a bruising on her face, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London
PA
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Amber Heard being cross examined by Eleanor Laws QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London during a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July
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Amber Heard with a friend, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July
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Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton
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Video deposition of Amber Heard in US proceedings, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court
PA
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Johnny Depp with a cast on his hand
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Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July
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Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 22 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp’s libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July
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Amber Heard with her girlfriend Bianca Butti arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July
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Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July
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It was revealed today the judge who oversaw the trial, Mr Justice Nicol, will deliver his hotly-anticipated ruling at 10am on Monday, November 2.
Depp and Heard were both ever-present at the four-week libel trial, but are not expected to be at the High Court for next week’s ruling which will be delivered virtually and published online.
The article that sparked the libel action saw Wootton call for Depp to be stripped of his role in JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts film series because of Heard’s allegations of domestic violence.
In the course of a three-week court battle, Depp laid bare his history of drug addiction and excessive drinking but denied it has turned him into a violent abuser.
Heard claimed Depp first hit her in the face when she laughed at one of his tattoos, she alleged he lashed out when suspecting her of having affairs, and effectively held her hostage at an Australian property during a three-day drink and drugs bender.
She first went public with the claims in 2016, seeking a restraining order against Depp in a heavily-publicised court appearance when she appeared to have bruises on her face. She claimed he had struck her again as their marriage ended.
However Depp told the court the allegations against him are a “hoax” orchestrated by Heard, who he alleged was the real abuser in the relationship. He claimed that she had severed his fingertip when she threw a vodka bottle at him.
Both Depp and Heard gave lengthy evidence in the trial, with the judge reserving a judgment which will pick over the truth of 14 incidents of alleged violence.
David Sherborne, representing Depp, told the court a defeat for the star would be “reputation destroying and career-ending”.
News Group Newspaper denied libelling the star, relying on a defence that the ‘wife beater’ tag was true.