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Johnny Depp has reportedly left the country amid a hiatus in defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard

Johnny Depp has reportedly left the country this week as the defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard is on a one-week hiatus because the presiding judge had a prior commitment this week.

johnny depp amber heard

Credit: Insider

According to FOX News, Johnny Depp is spending some time overseas in Europe this week. For the first time since April 11, Depp isn’t expected in a Fairfax County courthouse. There, he and his ex-wife Amber Heard have been entangled in a defamation trial in court that has brought to light several shocking allegations.

The legal teams for both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, led by attorneys Ben Chew and Elaine Bredehoft, respectively, have called on countless witnesses to give testimony–some of whom are part of the Hollywood scene as well, such as Paul Bettany, among others.

Depp-Heard trial: All day, people arrive at the court carrying signs.  Nearly all are for Depp

Credit: The Irish Times

Depp is suing Heard for $50 million, alleging an op-ed she penned for The Washington Post alluded to Johnny Depp being guilty of domestic abuse against her. Depp claims that the op-ed has tarnished his name and cost him lucrative Hollywood roles.

Not to be outdone, after she was unsuccessful in her attempts to have Judge Penny Azcarate throw out the defamation case, Heard countersued Depp for $100 million.

“Johnny is in Europe taking some time out to rest for a few days, hang out with old friends, playing music, and [he’s] taking long walks in the countryside,” a source told The New York Post.

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Credit: Vanity Fair

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Though Depp is taking time this week to rest, there’s still work to be done. As the case is still ongoing, no judgment has been made by the jury, but in the court of public opinion, it’s Johnny Depp who’s the victor, especially after Amber Heard took the stand last week.

amber heard johnny depp trial

Credit: CBS

On numerous occasions, Heard claimed she couldn’t remember details about the incidences in question. She frequently alternated between “crying” spells and smiles sometimes accompanied by laughter. And many Depp fans point out that Amber Heard has been inconsistent with her testimony at times.

Regardless, legal experts say the battle is not over; in fact, some say it’s an uphill battle from here.

“As most defamation plaintiffs have, Depp and his team have an uphill battle and have a challenge in proving the case because they have to prove, first of all, that anything that was said [in the op-ed and Heard’s testimony] is completely false,” media, entertainment, and IP attorney Daniel Gutenplan told FOX News in an interview.

The Washington Post piece in question, of course, doesn’t mention Mr. Depp by name, although, his camp will argue–and I think it’s a compelling argument–that a reasonable reader will assume that the article was written about Mr. Depp,” Gutenplan continued. “But of course, it doesn’t just not mention him. It also does not mention any specific instances of abuse or events. So it doesn’t say, ‘On this date, at this time, or at this place, this thing happened. He did this to me.’ It just generally references being a victim of abuse.”

johnny depp amber heard

Credit: Sky News

When court reconvenes on Monday, May 16 at 9:00 a.m. ET, Johnny Depp‘s legal team led by attorney Ben Chew will begin its cross-examination of Amber Heard and her abuse allegations. Next week, actress Ellen Barkin is expected to give testimony in court, as is Amber Heard‘s sister, Whitney Heard.

Heard claims that she is the victim of domestic violence and sexual violence at the hands of her ex-husband Johnny Depp, whom she married in 2015. Their divorce was final in January 2017.

The case is expected to wrap up on May 27.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!