Johnny Depp, Amber Heard dog court case: Plea deal offered 6 months ago

TODAY Johnny Depp’s wife Amber Heard pleaded guilty to a charge relating to the ‘doggone scandal’. But there was a plot twist six months ago that Hollywood would love.

Johnny Depp Court

• Johnny Depp, Amber Heard: Guilty to charge in dog smuggle case
• Johnny Depp: Fan trumps media at dog trial
• Johnny Depp, Amber Heard: Stars jet in for trial
• Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s video message

AMBER Heard offered prosecutors a plea deal almost six months ago before today’s stunning 11th hour twist that short-circuited a drawn-out trial.

Heard, 29, was facing three charges in a case against the department of agriculture over allegations she illegally smuggled her two pet dogs in to Australia last April while husband Johnny Depp was on the Gold Coast shooting the Pirates of the Caribbean blockbuster Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Heard released a public statement in December boldly vowing to clear her name during the looming trial, which was expected to drag on for days and feature testimony from a dozen witnesses, including her superstar husband.

However there was one final plot twist to come.

Heard sensationally pleaded guilty to one count of producing a false document, her immigration arrival card, but the two counts of illegally importing terriers Boo and Pistol were withdrawn as prosecutors offered no evidence.

The Courier-Mail understands negotiations between Heard’s legal team and prosecutors took place in the days leading up to the scheduled trial.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp outside Southport Court. Picture: Tim Marsden

Heard’s guilty plea to a count of producing a false document came as prosecutors agreed not to pursue charges of smuggling the pampered pooches.

Heard and Depp also agreed to appear in a video warning other travellers not to flout Australia’s quarantine laws.

The video apology featured a script negotiated between Heard, Depp, their legal team, prosecutors and the department of agriculture.

However, defence barrister Jeremy Kirk, SC, told the court Heard had first approached prosecutors about a plea deal in November last year.

He said she offered to plead guilty to the count of producing a false document if prosecutors agreed to drop the charges of importing the terriers illegally.

Mr Kirk said prosecutors rejected the offer, only for them to eventually accept the same deal in the days before the trial.