Amber Heard to plead not guilty to illegally smuggling dogs Pistol and Boo into Australia

AMBER Heard says she will plead not guilty to breaching Australia’s quarantine laws as the case over her and Johnny Depp’s dogs continues.

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HOLLYWOOD actor Amber Heard says she looks forward to fighting the charges when the case of her and husband Johnny Depp’s dogs return to court next year.

But the power couple are reportedly pushing for an earlier hearing date even though Southport Magistrates Court can’t accommodate them.

Heard, 29, is charged with breaching Australia’s quarantine laws after allegedly failing to declare the entry by private jet of her Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo.

The case garnered international attention and sparked a war of words between Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Depp, who was in Queensland with his wife and pets to film the fifth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.

Joyce told Depp and his dogs to “bugger off” back to California while the actor retorted by describing Joyce as a “weird, sweaty-pated, gut man”.

Heard has since vowed never to return to Australia and has been absent for all three mentions of her case.

But the US star broke her silence in a statement released yesterday, in which she said she would plead not guilty to the charges.

“Today I instructed my lawyers to enter not guilty pleas on my behalf,” the statement to the media read.

“I have been informed by my lawyers that there has been no necessity for me to attend Court to date despite my willingness to do so.

“While I am unable to comment on specific matters before the Court I would like to say that I respect the importance of Australia’s laws.

“My decision to defend these charges, as will become apparent in the appropriate forum of the Court, is not intended to in any way diminish the importance of Australia’s laws.

“I look forward to attending the hearing of these matters. However as the matters are to be determined by the Court, I will not be making any further statements.”

Heard faces a 10 year jail sentence and hefty fines over the alleged illegal entry of Pistol and Boo.

But the pair are reportedly trying to use their celebrity status to push for a hearing date earlier than March.

The prosecution and the defence teams were embroiled in a “heated argument” yesterday over when the case should be dealt with, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.

Heard’s defence barrister Paula Morreau said the actor wanted the matter dealt with as early as possible next year because March “won’t be suitable for the parties”.

Magistrate Joan White said the court could try to accommodate the request but would need help from Brisbane because of an already busy schedule.

“It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight,” she said.

“There’s going to be significant discussion, if not argument with Brisbane, about getting someone to do it before then.”

Four of the 12 crown witnesses have said they were not available during the period the defence was pushing for, the Bulletin reported.

It is unclear if Depp will accompany his wife to court.

But Heard’s lawyers suggested he may be in attendance and did not “wish his presence to be disruptive of this court”.

“That’s a bit of an understatement,” the magistrate replied, later admitting she was being “facetious”.

The matter has been listed for mention again on Tuesday.