‘Slam dunk victory’: Piers Morgan weighs in on Johnny Depp Trial

Piers Morgan has weighed in Johnny Depp’s trial, describing the verdict as a “slam-dunk victory” for the star and a “wipeout” for Amber Heard.

Piers Morgan has labelled Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation case “a complete disaster” for the actress.

The 58-year-old star sued his ex-wife for $70 million, claiming she defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post opinion piece in which she described herself as a victim of domestic abuse.

Depp was not named in the essay, but he said it clearly referenced him – and ruined his career, damaged his reputation and lost him tens of millions of dollars.

The Aquaman actress was ordered to pay Depp $US15 million ($A21 million) in defamation compensatory damages and $US5 million ($A7 million) in punitive damages.

However, Virginia law only allows punitive damages up to a maximum of $US350,000 ($A490,000), meaning Depp was awarded a total of $US10.35 million ($A14.4 million).

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Johnny Depp won his six-week defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. Picture: Shawn Thew / Pool / AFP.

During Thursday’s episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, available to stream on Flash, the Sky News host described the verdict as a “slam-dunk victory” for the Pirates of the Caribbean star and a “wipeout” for Heard.

The broadcaster said it was a “complete vindication” for the Edward Scissorhands star.

“It means the jury believed him and they thought Amber Heard was lying, and they also believed that Johnny Depp was the real victim here and not her,” Morgan said.

“It’s hard to imagine a bigger humiliation for Amber Heard. It’s a complete disaster and failure.”

Piers Morgan described the verdict as a “slam-dunk victory” for Depp and a “wipeout” for Heard. Picture: Flash/Sky News.

Sharon Osbourne appeared on the program and gave her opinion on the verdict.

“Wow, it wasn’t what I was expecting. I mean, I wanted Johnny to win but I didn’t expect him to.”

The TV personality who knows Depp, described him as a “gentle soul” and a “good human being.”

The former The Talk host said the couple’s relationship was “toxic” and Heard wanted to “destroy” Depp.

“For me, I related to it so much and I know alcoholic behaviour inside out and backwards … but they were both abusive, both very, very abusive to each other,” she said.

“At any time she could have left. She wasn’t a little wall flower, she was a mover and shaker in town.

“The world really did want him to win and he’s won and that’s it.”

Sharon Osbourne who knows Depp, described him as a "gentle soul" and a "good human being.” Picture: Flash/Sky News.

The TV personality said the couple’s relationship was “toxic.” Picture: Tiziana Fabi / AFP.

After the verdict, Depp posted a statement on Instagram thanking fans for their support and said that the “jury had given his life back”.

While Heard shared a statement on social media she was “heartbroken” by the ruling.

“I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband,” she said.

“I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.

“I believe Johnny’s attorneys succeeded in getting the jury to overlook the key issue of Freedom of Speech and ignore evidence that was so conclusive that we won in the UK.

“I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American — to speak freely and openly.”