Johnny Depp, Amber Heard on Gold Coast for quarantine case

HOLLYWOOD superstar Johnny Depp and his glamorous wife Amber Heard will today take on their toughest roles yet: star witness and chief defendant as the infamous “doggone scandal” reaches its thrilling climax.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 10: Actors Amber Heard (L) and Johnny Depp attend the 8th Annual HEAVEN Gala presented by Art of Elysium and Samsung Galaxy at Hangar 8 on January 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

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LATEST: JOHNNY Depp’s wife Amber Heard has pleaded guilty at the 11th hour.

A five-day hearing had been set down but her barrister has entered a

guilty plea to the two charges.

A three-hour sentencing hearing is about to begin.

Johnny Depp, Amber Heard in court quarantine case full story

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp and his glamorous wife Amber Heard will today take on their toughest roles yet: star witness and chief defendant as the infamous “doggone scandal” reaches its thrilling climax.

And like any good blockbuster, there could be a dramatic twist in the tail.

The extraordinary scenes will play out from today at Southport Court on the Gold Coast as Heard, 29, fights charges of smuggling the couple’s dogs – Pistol and Boo – into the country last year.

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DATE SET: Heard’s case to be heard

The couple landed on the Gold Coast early yesterday morning in a private jet and are believed to be staying at Palazzo Versace for the duration of the court case, which could result in Heard being fined heavily or even jailed.

The trial of Heard, being prosecuted for the Department of Agriculture, is due to start at Southport today with Depp, one of the world’s biggest movie stars, expected to be called as one of a dozen witnesses – if the case proceeds.

In a statement issued in December, Heard said she looked forward to attending the court to clear her name, with four days set aside for a trial set to include testimony from her superstar husband.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp are reportedly both on the Gold Coast.

However, insiders believe some 11th-hour negotiations could have the matter resolved for good as early as today.

There had been speculation about whether the glamorous couple would even turn up, as US media have been reporting that Heard is expecting their first child, rumours that started two months ago.

A spokeswoman for the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions confirmed there were provisions for Heard to be excused from attending court in person if her legal team were to make an application to the court.

However their arrival in Queensland yesterday suggests that won’t be necessary.

Heard’s Australia-based lawyers refused to return phone calls from The Courier-Mail, while her American agents and publicist did not respond to telephone and email inquiries.

The offending dogs were spotted at motorsport legend Mick Doohan’s Gold Coast compound where the couple were staying. Pic: Channel 9

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow during the Gold Coast filming.

But one Government source said yesterday there was the possibility the two sides could reach an agreement to short-circuit the trial.

Heard was charged with two counts of illegal importation and one of producing a false document – her incoming passenger card – after allegedly smuggling teacup Yorkshire terriers Boo and Pistol into the country on a private jet while Depp was in Australia filming a Pirates of the Caribbean movie on the Gold Coast in April last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, then the federal agriculture minister, famously threatened to have the dogs euthanised if they didn’t “bugger off” back to the US.

The dogs were eventually flown out of the country before the Joyce deadline expired.

Heard’s legal team entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in December. She could face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of $100,000 if found guilty.

Depp is not facing any charges but is believed to be one of a dozen witnesses named in a secret document due to be opened in court today.

He has since entered into a war of words with Mr Joyce, who has also copped abuse from around the globe for his dogged pursuit of the case.

Mr Joyce has made no apologies for his stance, saying the case highlighted how serious Australia was about its quarantine and border protection laws.

It is the biggest celebrity court case to be heard in the Gold Coast court precinct since Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl was busted for drink-driving on a moped 16 years ago.