Verdict reached in Johnny Depp, Amber Heard defamation trial

The jury in the bombshell trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has finally reached a decision. But not before there was a strange mistake.

A verdict has been reached in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s bombshell defamation trial.

The seven-person jury reached its decision in Fairfax, Virginia – close to Washington DC – on Wednesday, the third day of deliberations after about 13 hours of weighing the case, reported the New York Post.

The verdict was expected to be read at 3pm DC time which is 3am in Perth and 5am in the eastern state

But as soon as the jurors returned, Judge Penny Azcarate called the various lawyers to the bench due to a problem.

She then sent the jurors away again as they had failed to fill out the compensatory damages part of the paperwork.

The seven men and women of the jury were given 42 questions to answer of which several involved what damages should be given.

Judge Azcarate said a compensation amount of “at least $1”, must be given to the winner.

She told them to depart again but suggested it wouldn’t be a long delay.

“Don’t get too far away, OK?” she told the court.

As the court recessed, Depp’s team could be seen smiling. It’s not clear if they saw the result when they chatted to the judge.

Heard is being sued by Depp for $US50million ($A67m) for implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Although she did not name him, he claims her allegations are false and cost him lucrative movie roles.

Ms Heard has countersued, asking for $US100 million ($A134m) and claiming she suffered “rampant physical violence and abuse” at his hands but was defamed when claims were made that she had manufactured the allegations.

Heard is in the court to hear the decision. But not Depp.

“Due to previously scheduled work commitments made before the trial, Mr. Depp will not be physically present for today’s 3pm verdict and will be watching from the United Kingdom,” a source from his team said.

Judge Penney Azcarate speaks in the courtroom as jury deliberations continue in the Depp v. Heard trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. (Photo by JIM WATSON / POOL / AFP)

Following a six-week trial that was filled with testimony about the alleged abuse Heard says she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, jurors were tasked with determining whether specific passages in her article defamed Depp.

Johnny Depp arriving at court. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

According to the verdict form given to jurors, the jury has to consider whether the headline and passages were about Depp, if they are false, whether each of them has a “defamatory implication” and whether Heard intended for it to smear her ex-husband.

Jurors also have to weigh if Heard acted with “actual malice,” which requires “clear and convincing evidence” that she either knew what she was writing was false or that she acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

The panel also must make a decision on Heard’s countersuit. The jury must come to a unanimous decision for a verdict.

This story appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.