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Follow the New York Post’s latest coverage of Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard as the jury’s verdict is announced Wednesday.

What you need to know:

Heard's lawyers leave the court without speaking to press

By Elizabeth Rosner

Amber Heard's lawyers left the courthouse Wednesday afternoon without making comments to the press.

Actor Amber Heard stands with her lawyers Elaine Bredehoft and Benjamin Rottenborn.
Actor Amber Heard stands with her lawyers Elaine Bredehoft and Benjamin Rottenborn. REUTERS

Johnny Depp's lawyers Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez made brief remarks before departing the Fairfax County Circuit Court.

Source: Amber Heard's lawyer was 'too confident'

By Elizabeth Rosner

A source familiar with Amber Heard's legal strategy told The Post she thinks lawyer Elaine Bredehoft was "too confident."

“From the beginning Elaine was very, very confident — they thought [Johnny] Depp’s burn email was enough to prove the case … They were too confident and they screwed up — their team was out-dumped,” the source said.

Actor Amber Heard hugs her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft after the jury said that they believe she defamed ex-husband Johnny Depp while announcing split verdicts in favor of both her ex-husband Johnny Depp and Heard on their claim and counter-claim in the Depp v. Heard civil defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., June 1, 2022.
Actor Amber Heard hugs her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft after the jury said that they believe she defamed ex-husband Johnny Depp. REUTERS
Amber Heard hugs her lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn
Heard hugs her lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn. REUTERS

Depp wrote in a message introduced in court about Heard: "Let's burn her."

"Let's drown her before we burn her," he wrote.

House Judiciary Committee GOP celebrates Depp verdict

The House Judiciary Committee GOP appeared to celebrate Johnny Depp's victory on Wednesday, when they tweeted a gif of Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean" shortly after the verdict was announced.

pic.twitter.com/aSmY4hodN4

— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) June 1, 2022

Depp's team reacts after verdict: We are grateful trial has 'resonated'

"Today's verdict confirms what we have said from the beginning," Johnny Depp lawyer Camille Vasquez said in a presser following the verdict's announcement.

"We are also most pleased that the trial has resonated for so many people in the public who value truth and justice," lawyer Ben Chew said.

Depp's team praised the verdict.
Depp's team praised the verdict. Reuters

The two lawyers did not take questions following very brief remarks.

Johnny Depp fans gather outside courthouse to greet his legal team

Johnny Depp's fans have gathered outside the courthouse to greet his legal team, who are sure to get the celebrity treatment after their victory.

Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez has become particularly popular and will no doubt soak in the praise from the fans.

Depp fans await the legal team after the case.
Depp fans await the legal team after the case. Reuters

The actor himself is in the UK.

Depp feels 'at peace' from verdict: 'The jury gave me my life back'

"Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed," Johnny Depp said in a lengthy statement released by a spokesperson in the aftermath of the verdict.

"All in the blink of an eye. False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career. And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled," he said.

Depp continued: "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that."

Depp continued his statement by thanking his massive fanbase for their support and kindness, Judge Penney Azcarate, the jurors, the court staff and the court sheriffs.

Breaking down the math of the damages

The jury ruled that Amber Heard defamed Johnny Depp in all three of the actor's claims. They awarded him $10 million in damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

Judge Penny Azcarate informed the court that state law limits punitive damages to $350,000, meaning Depp was awarded a total of $10.35 million.

The jurors also said Depp defamed Heard in just one of her three claims, awarding her $2 million in damages and no money in punitive damages.

Subtracting Heard's award from Depp's total, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star leaves the case with $8.35 million.

Amber Heard 'heartbroken' by verdict: 'The disappointment I feel today is beyond words'

“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," Amber Heard said in a statement immediately following the verdict in the dueling cases involving Johnny Depp.

"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. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously," she continued.

Amber Heard said she's "heartbroken" over the verdict in the case.
Amber Heard said she's "heartbroken" over the verdict in the case. Reuters

Heard said that "Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of freedom of speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK.

"I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American -- to speak freely and openly.”

Johnny Depp's lawyers hug and celebrate in court

Johnny Depp's lawyers are hugging and celebrating in court after the jury awarded him $10 million in damages.

The jury also awarded him $5 million in punitive damages, but that number was capped at $350,000, according to state laws.

Depp's lawyers hugged in court after the verdict was read.
Depp's lawyers hugged in court after the verdict was read. Reuters
Depp's team had smiles after the verdict reading.
Depp's team had smiles after the verdict reading. Reuters

It's a resounding victory for Team Depp.

Depp did not defame Heard in her third claim, jury finds

Johnny Depp did not defame Amber Heard when his lawyer spoke of a "Ms. Heard abuse hoax against Johnny Depp," the jury ruled.

This means Depp was only found to be defamatory in one of her three claims.

Jury finds Depp DID defame Heard in her second claim, awards her $2 million

The jury ruled Wednesday that Adam Waldman did defame Amber Heard when he told the Daily Mail she set up Johnny Depp in a hoax when the police came to their apartment in May 2016.

It awarded Heard $2 million in damages for this claim.

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