[ad_1]

A massive pirate ship ‘sailed’ by a Virginia courthouse Tuesday as jury deliberations continue in the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial. 

The vessel was a van atop a flatbed disguised to look like a pirate ship covered with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ images, including the face of Depp’s character, Captain Jack Sparrow.

A pirate mannequin stood at the bow of the ‘ship’ which delighted fans who saw it in person and on social media.

It was towed past the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Virginia where jurors continue to deliberate the outcome of Depp’s case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. 

But sadly Depp himself won’t have seen what appears to have been a lavish means of supporting his case, as he is in the UK performing with his band Hollywood Vampires. 

There was no sign of Heard either on Tuesday, although Depp’s star lawyer Camille Vasquez was pictured headed into court.

Tuesday is the first full day of deliberations for them in what is a complicated and evidence-heavy case. A verdict is unlikely to be returned Tuesday, and is more likely to come back later this week.  

A massive pirate ship 'sailed' by a Virginia courthouse Tuesday as jury deliberations continue in the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial

A massive pirate ship ‘sailed’ by a Virginia courthouse Tuesday as jury deliberations continue in the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial

The vessel was a van atop a flatbed disguised to look like a pirate ship covered with 'Pirates of the Caribbean' images, including the face of Depp's character, Captain Jack Sparrow

The vessel was a van atop a flatbed disguised to look like a pirate ship covered with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ images, including the face of Depp’s character, Captain Jack Sparrow

Depp, 58, is suing ex-wife Amber Heard, 36, for $50 million, claiming he was defamed by a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which Heard described herself as a ‘public figure representing domestic abuse.’

See also  Florida cop nearly dies from 'fentanyl exposure' after Officer pulled over drug-using driver

Heard filed a $100 million counterclaim against the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star after his lawyer called her allegations a hoax. Each accuses the other of destroying their career.

The seven-person civil jury heard closing arguments Friday and deliberated for about two hours before leaving for the long Memorial Day weekend. Jurors resumed deliberations in Fairfax County Circuit Court just after 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Testimony featured a litany of lurid details of their short marriage. Heard testified that Depp physically or sexually assaulted her more than a dozen times. During his testimony, Depp testified that he never struck Heard, that she concocted the abuse allegations, and that she was the one who physically attacked him, multiple times.

Depp's lawyers Camille Vasquez (L) and Ben Chew (R), walk to their car as the jury deliberates in the Depp vs. Heard defamation trial

Depp’s lawyers Camille Vasquez (L) and Ben Chew (R), walk to their car as the jury deliberates in the Depp vs. Heard defamation trial

Depp's legal team spotted outside the Fairfax County Courthouse before being summoned inside when jurors posed a question during deliberations on Tuesday

Depp’s legal team spotted outside the Fairfax County Courthouse before being summoned inside when jurors posed a question during deliberations on Tuesday

During closing arguments, both sides told the jury that a verdict in their favor would give their clients their lives back.

Depp flew to England over the Memorial Day weekend and made surprise appearances at concerts in Sheffield and London by Jeff Beck. 

Depp, a guitarist, has his own band, the Hollywood Vampires, with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. 

Neither Depp nor Heard were seen at the Fairfax County Courthouse where deliberations continued Tuesday. But all-star attorneys Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew, and other members of Depp’s legal team were spotted outside the courthouse and then were summoned into court when they were alerted that the jury had posed a question. 

Heard filed a $100 million counterclaim against the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star after his lawyer called her allegations a hoax. Each accuses the other of destroying their career

Heard filed a $100 million counterclaim against the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star after his lawyer called her allegations a hoax. Each accuses the other of destroying their career

The seven-member jury must decide if two passages and the headline of the op-ed are defamatory. The jury verdict form gives jurors instructions on how to determine that, including by asking them whether the statements were about Depp, were false and had a defamatory implication about him.

Jurors wanted clarification on whether they are to consider the headline of the op-ed – ‘I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change’ – to be false. Or the op-ed as a whole. 

Depp's team assembles inside the Fairfax County Courthouse Tuesday after being alerted that the jury had posed a question about whether they are to consider the headline or op-ed

Depp’s team assembles inside the Fairfax County Courthouse Tuesday after being alerted that the jury had posed a question about whether they are to consider the headline or op-ed

Judge Penney Azcarate told the Fairfax, Virginia court she would instruct jurors that they were to consider the headline, and not the op-ed

Judge Penney Azcarate told the Fairfax, Virginia court she would instruct jurors that they were to consider the headline, and not the op-ed

Judge Penney Azcarate told the Fairfax, Virginia court she would instruct jurors that they were to consider the headline, and not the op-ed.

‘The statement is the headline and not the entire op-ed,’ Azcarate said.

Because Depp is a public figure, Heard can only be found guilty of libel if the jury decides that she acted with ‘actual malice,’ meaning that she either knew what she wrote was false or that she acted with reckless disregard for the truth. 

See also  Shazam 2 is expected to have 'one of the worst' domestic openings for any DC movie with just $30M

Heard’s lawyers told the jury Depp’s libel claim must fail if Heard suffered even a single incident of abuse.

[ad_2]

Source link