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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Rose Hill & Katherine Heslop

Why isn't Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial on tonight? Reprieve after bombshell testimonies

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's libel trial has gripped the world, with bombshell testimonies dropping left, right and centre.

Hollywood actor Depp, 58, is suing ex-wife and actress Heard, 36, for alleged defamation in a $50million (£40million) trial over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, in which she said she was a victim of domestic abuse.

He denies the allegations. The Aquaman star is countersuing him for $100million (£81million).

The trial will not be airing this evening as the judge has ordered a reprieve until May 16

It comes as Heard took to the stand this week after the judge denied her team's attempt to have the case dismissed.

The request came on the 13th day of the trial as Johnny's team completed their evidence, later arguing that Amber's application should be denied.

Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard over an op-ed she wrote in 2018 (Getty)

Judge Penny Azcarate said she denied the motion to dismiss the case on two parts, but third part she would take advice on.

Depp has denied all allegations that he has ever assaulted Amber, and giving testimony last week at the trial, which started last month, said as part of these denials that he was the victim of domestic abuse.

He says her domestic abuse claims have harmed his career and reputation and claims the 2018 article caused him to be dropped from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Depp has filed a countersuit against Johnny, seeking damages and saying his legal team falsely accused her of fabricating claims against the actor.

Heard returns from a break to the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Virginia (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Heard’s counterclaim accuses Depp of orchestrating a "smear campaign" against her and describing his lawsuit as a continuation of "abuse and harassment."

Heard's team sought for the case to be dismissed and her lawyer Ben Rottenborn said there was "ample evidence" that Johnny physically abused Amber, although admitted it is disputed.

He said non-physical abuse is not disputed.

The lawyer said that if Depp abused Heard "even one time, then she wins. It's that simple".

Ben Chew, for Depp, argued against this, claiming it "couldn't be more clear" that Amber was talking about Johnny in the article.

Heard gave a tearful testimony in court this week (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

He said that Heard "far from being a figure respecting domestic violence", she was in fact a "perpetrator".

"We have the harrowing testimony of Mr Depp himself," he added.

Chew continued: "The court should deny Amber Heard's motion to strike because Mr Depp has come forward in his case and chief with multiple credible witnesses, documents and authentic tape recordings of Ms Heard herself."

Raising his voice, he pointed at Heard as he said: "Not only satisfying all of the requisite elements of his claim for defamation, including actual malice, but also going the extra mile of showing Ms Heard physically abused him. She's the abuser in this courtroom!"

The pair are facing each other in court once again after the biggest English libel trial of the 21st century back in 2020, where Depp lost his case against News Group Newspaper after claiming The Sun had falsely labelled him a "wife beater".

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