After a six long week of heated and highly-anticipated battle in court, a verdict between the defamation case filed by Johnny Depp which is later on countersued by Amber Heard is finally ruled by a Virginia jury. 

The verdict claims that Heard is liable in defaming her ex-husband, asserting that he is an abuser during  the course of their short marriage. Depp is awarded by the jury $15 million in total, $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. However, $2 million in damages is also awarded to Heard after the jury also ruled in favor in some part of the suit she filed where she claimed that Depp's lawyers refer to her sexual abuse allegations 'hoax'. 

Depp was not present in court to hear and witness the verdict as he was in the UK, he was represented by his legal team. In a message posted on his Instagram account, Depp said "the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.”

Camille Vasquez, Depp’s feisty lawyer who made headlines and gained popularity online, celebrated with her team after a unanimous decision from the jury in favor for Depp in the defamation trial. 

"Today's verdict confirms what we have said from the beginning -- that the claims against Johnny Depp are defamatory and unsupported by any evidence. We are grateful, so grateful to the jury for their careful deliberation" she said in a public statement after the trial.

Heard on the other hand felt heartbroken after the verdict was announced. 

"The disappointment I feel today is beyond words, I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband. I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated.” she said.

Depp and Heard met on set for a film in 2009. The couple was wed in 2015 but had their divorce eventually. In 2016, Heard accused Depp for sexual abuse. In 2018, Heard wrote an article claiming she was a victim and a survivor of sexual abuse, the said article did not mentioned her ex-husband name. Depp later on filed a case against Heard for smearing and defaming his name which Heard counter-suited. On June 1, 2022, a final verdict was made for the defamation case between ex lovers Depp and Heard. 

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