A jury says it has reached a verdict in Johnny Depp's libel lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, who testified that Depp physically and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions.
The jury also has reached a verdict regarding a $US100 million ($139.4 million) counterclaim Heard filed against Depp. Heard said she was defamed when Depp's lawyer called her abuse allegations a hoax.
The verdict was set to be read out inside the Virginia court just after 5am on Thursday AEST but the judge sent the jury back because it had not completely filled out the form.
READ MORE: Jury sees photos of Amber Heard's swollen face after fight with Johnny Depp
The seven-person civil jury had to come to a unanimous decision to reach each verdict. They deliberated for about 12 hours over three days.
Depp sued his ex-wife for $US50 million ($69.7 million), accusing her of libelling him with a 2018 op-ed she wrote describing herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse." Heard filed a $US100 million ($139.4 million) counterclaim against the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star after his lawyer called her allegations a hoax. Each accuses the other of destroying their career.
Testimony during the six-week trial has included lurid details of their short and volatile marriage. Heard testified that Depp physically or sexually assaulted her more than a dozen times. Depp said he never struck Heard, that she concocted the abuse allegations, and that she was the one who physically attacked him, multiple times.
Jurors must decide both claims based on whether or not the statements were made with "actual malice," meaning they knew what they were saying was false, or were acting with a reckless disregard for the truth.
During closing arguments, both sides told the jury that a verdict in their favour would give their clients their lives back.
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Depp was not in Virginia for the decision. He has spent the last few days on stage, singing and playing guitar with Jeff Beck in the United Kingdom.
