- Title: Johnny Depp's libel case to go ahead, UK judge rules, Amber Heard can attend
- Date: 6th July 2020
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - NOVEMBER 2, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ACTOR JOHNNY DEPP, POSING FOR PHOTOS ON RED CARPET DEPP MEETING A FAN
- Embargoed: 20th July 2020 12:18
- Keywords: Amber Heard Johnny Depp London court New Group Newspapers Sun newspaper court ruling libel case wife beater
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA003CLOBZGT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A British judge ruled on Thursday (July 2) that Hollywood star Johnny Depp's libel case against The Sun newspaper over claims he abused his ex-wife can go ahead this week after rejecting the publication's bid to have the case thrown out.
Depp's former wife, actress Amber Heard is also allowed to attend the civil case, the court said on Saturday (July 4), and hear the actor giving evidence.
The 57-year-old star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, is suing the tabloid's publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at London's High Court for libel over an article Wootton wrote in 2018 calling Depp a "wife beater".
In June Judge Andrew Nicol ruled that Depp had not fully complied with a court order by not supplying details of mobile phone texts to his assistant which the Sun's legal team said referred to obtaining drugs for the actor.
The paper's lawyer, Adam Wolanski, argued that the breach meant that the case should be thrown out, but Nicol said on July 2 that would not be just.
"The claim is far advanced and the trial is imminent," he said. "Despite the breach which I have found and despite Mr. Wolanski's submissions, I am not persuaded that the trial of the claim would be unfair."
Depp married actress Amber Heard in February 2015 but she filed for divorce after just 15 months. She has accused him of physical abuse during their relationship, allegations he denies.
The libel trial is due to start on Tuesday and is expected to last three weeks. Both Depp and Heard are expected to give evidence.
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