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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to wonder why everyone is saying ruling wrong in Johnny Depp libel case?

215 replies

WorkQuery · 02/11/2020 21:28

Jury believed that Johnny Depp was violent to Amber Heard. All I keep reading on Facebook etc is comments from people who believe that the ruling was wrong. Why do people assume that it's wrong? Clearly there must have been very strong evidence to support that Depp was abusive to Amber?

OP posts:
ClareBlue · 03/11/2020 23:41

One issue that seems to have been overlooked is the trashing of the judge and evidence by JD solicitor. She basically acussed the judge of being bias and the justice system as being a load of crap, saying the ruling was perverse. Citing all the evidence about how hard done by JD was.
Missing the point completely that it was nothing to do with anything other than his behaviour and her advice that they would win was flawed. It is one thing saying strong grounds for appealing, but personal criticising the judge was another mistake and an insult to everyone.
She basically said she would get justice in the USA case where they could confuse the situation by making it about anything but JD behaviour.
Thank God for proper judges who see through all the bullshit.

hamstersarse · 03/11/2020 23:50

The Sun article is pretty damning. He is a wife beater.

I think people find it hard to reconcile his previous persona with this one. He seemed a genuinely gentle person. And previous partners seemed to back this up. But something has gone seriously wrong and maybe his addictions have got the better of him.

I'm in no way excusing him but usually you hear of a pattern of abuse crossing relationships and so it is quite unusual for this to be a one off at his age especially. That's the bit that is confusing. But it is pretty clear that he is a wife beater - and it is a massive disappointment to many people.

Whatever Heard was like, and she certainly isn't my cup of tea, he shouldn't have behaved as he did.

studychick81 · 03/11/2020 23:52

Was JD solicitor British or American? I do think JD didn't understand what the trial was about thought he could could just try and trash AH as a lier and untrustworthy and focus on what she did to him rather than focusing on providing counter evidence to show he's not a wife beater.

MarieFromStTropez · 04/11/2020 00:06

She lost me when she applied a filter to a photograph of her bruised face, to make it look worse.

ClareBlue · 04/11/2020 00:06

Schillings, a top London firm with strong international contacts. They are doubling down with their appeal. The appeal will be another 3 million but less public and more technical.

Anordinarymum · 04/11/2020 00:17

What I found to be strange was how all of his ex's said he is a gentle person.

I read today that Amber Heard's ex assistant said she was a violent and aggressive bully.

Together with the drink and the drugs she perhaps brought out the hidden monster in him? Who knows.

SpeccyLime · 04/11/2020 00:17

He had to prove that he never touched her at all, never retaliated and never abused her in any way but he couldn't.

No, he didn’t. He didn’t have to prove anything at all.

In defamation cases, the burden of proof lies with the defendant to prove that the allegedly defamatory statements are true. The allegedly defamed person doesn’t have to prove anything.

It was on the Sun to prove their allegations, not on Depp to disprove them. Having heard the evidence, the judge has determined that in 12 out of 14 cases their allegations were true.

SpeccyLime · 04/11/2020 00:18

*Together with the drink and the drugs she perhaps brought out the hidden monster in him?

Some of the worst victim blaming I’ve ever seen. Gross.

prh47bridge · 04/11/2020 00:30

Was JD solicitor British or American

British.

She basically acussed the judge of being bias and the justice system as being a load of crap, saying the ruling was perverse

She said nothing directly about the judge and nothing at all about the justice system. She did say the ruling was perverse, which is lawyer-speak for a judgement that is not supported by the evidence. That is not generally seen by lawyers as trashing the judge, nor is it a personal criticism of the judge, although it is clearly a criticism of the judgement.

Her point about the US relates to the fact that the judge excluded evidence from one of Depp's witnesses completely, heavily edited the witness statement of another of Depp's witnesses and refused to order Heard to disclose documents, recordings and photos which they believe would have seriously damaged NGN's case, hence her comment that NGN have been allowed to pick and choose which evidence can be relied upon. Heard will almost certainly have to disclose these items in the US case. I don't have any inside knowledge but it would not surprise me if the judge's refusal to order disclosure from Heard is an issue raised at appeal.

StarCat2020 · 04/11/2020 00:36

I cannot believe that people STILL don't get the fact that being as libel case all the Sun needed to prove (51% chance) was that JD beat AH.

They did.

Nothing else matters (in this case).

SheepandCow · 04/11/2020 00:41

@SpeccyLime

*Together with the drink and the drugs she perhaps brought out the hidden monster in him?

Some of the worst victim blaming I’ve ever seen. Gross.

Terrible isn't it. All the 'she asked for it' shit.

I don't usually recommend this - but read the Sun. You'll see details of repeated incidents of serious violence.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/13090441/johnny-depp-libel-case-wife-beater/

SheepandCow · 04/11/2020 00:47

He seemed a genuinely gentle person
Eh? He's has a previous conviction for assault. And several other rumoured incidents over the years.

He's admitted it. He's talked about his 'monster' rages - referring to incidents long before Amber was on the scene.

He himself spoke about how his ex-wife, Vanessa Paradis, had to 'talk him down' from his rages.

StarCat2020 · 04/11/2020 00:49

He seemed a genuinely gentle person
I didn't realise that you knew him personally.

Anordinarymum · 04/11/2020 00:53

@SpeccyLime

*Together with the drink and the drugs she perhaps brought out the hidden monster in him?

Some of the worst victim blaming I’ve ever seen. Gross.

I wasn't blaming her. I just think that together they made a monster. I do not condone any of his actions. She also hit him. Two wrongs do not make a right. They lived a toxic drug fuelled life. Both of them.
SheepandCow · 04/11/2020 00:58

You don't know the circumstances of why and how she hit him. Given the details of his abuse, it's very possible it was self defence or Battered Wife Syndrome.

From the Sun:

In December 2015, Depp chucked a glass decanter at Amber at their LA home in a drug binge. He also slapped her and dragged her through the apartment by her hair - ripping a chunk out. He then hit her again in the back of the head and headbutted her in the face and screamed 'I will f*ing kill you'. Depp then pushed her face into a mattress and repeatedly punched her in the back of the head

That's just one of the many incidents.

Johnny Depp is s violent wife-beater.

SpeccyLime · 04/11/2020 01:01

I wasn't blaming her.

You literally referred to him as a gentle person and then said she brought out the monster in him

Anordinarymum · 04/11/2020 01:02

Sheep and cow, I am not arguing with this. I just think there is more to the story than we will ever know, and for this reason I do not think his career will be over.

SheepandCow · 04/11/2020 01:08

From the Sun:

Domestic abuse charities said the ruling showed power and celebrity cannot silence survivors.

Lisa King, of Refuge, said: “This is an important ruling and one which we hope sends a very ­powerful message: A common tactic used by perpetrators of domestic abuse is to repeatedly tell victims that no one will believe them – and to use power and control to try and silence them.

What we have seen today is power, fame and financial resources cannot be used to silence women.

Enough4me · 04/11/2020 01:10

Because when men are monsters they are just lovable rogues; when women aren't pure and innocent they are the monsters inciting bad behaviour.

Boys screaming can be cheeky monkeys; girls screaming are told they are not ladylike.

lovelemoncurd · 04/11/2020 01:11

Read the Hadley Freeman article in the Guardian re Depp. It may go some way to understanding why.

Anordinarymum · 04/11/2020 01:12

@SpeccyLime

I wasn't blaming her.

You literally referred to him as a gentle person and then said she brought out the monster in him

I did not say he was a gentle person. Other people said this. Perhaps they brought out the monster in each other. Who knows
SheepandCow · 04/11/2020 01:12

More from The Sun:

Nicki Norman, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “The allegations of domestic abuse against Johnny Depp were extremely serious.

Everyone who has experienced domestic abuse deserves to be listened to and believed.

This also applies to survivors who do not fit the image of the "perfect victim

- and regardless of the high profile of the alleged abuser.

There is no excuse for domestic abuse.

IncandescentSilver · 04/11/2020 01:13

Because people are stupid and don't understand that a libel action is about whether The Sun printed the truth or not.

Also stupid because they think a once good looking Hollywood film star can do no wrong. When in reality, Hollywood film stars are far more likely than average tomis ehace.

MarieFromStTropez · 04/11/2020 01:24

@SheepandCow:

You don't know the circumstances of why and how she hit him. Given the details of his abuse, it's very possible it was self defence or Battered Wife Syndrome.

By your logic, you could equally say the same about him:

You don't know the circumstances of why and how HE hit HER. Given the details of HER abuse, it's very possible it was self defence or Battered HUSBAND Syndrome.

SheepandCow · 04/11/2020 01:27

To use the words of younger people - You need to educate yourself @MarieFromStTropez

I continue to urge everybody to read the excellent article in the Sun.