Johnny Depp's Lawyer Lashes Out After Amber Heard's Attorney Claims They 'Suppressed Evidence'
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Johnny Depp's lawyer has lashed out at Amber Heard’s attorney after she made claims his team suppressed evidence during the highly publicised trial between the two movie stars.
Just in case you’ve been living under a rock in the last week, Depp won his defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard on June 1.
A US court awarded him $15 million (AU $20.7 million, £12 million) in damages, however the total costs Heard was ordered to pay was later capped at $10.35 million (£8.27 million) by Judge Penny Azcarate.
In a separate verdict, Heard was awarded $2 million (AU $2.7 million, £1.5 million) in damages via a counterclaim.
Following the verdict, Heard's lawyer Elaine Bredeohft appeared on The Today Show and claimed that Depp won the case because an 'enormous amount of evidence was suppressed'.
Depp's lawyer Benjamin Chew has since lashed out at the claims, dubbing Bredeohft's comments as 'disappointing' in an interview with Court TV.
#JohnnyDepp's lead attorney Ben Chew responds to Elaine Bredehoft's post-verdict statements. Bredehoft claims Depp's team "suppressed evidence" and "demonized #AmberHeard."
— Court TV (@CourtTV) June 9, 2022
WATCH #CourtTV LIVE - #DeppvsHeard - https://t.co/tnYdPcDRMU pic.twitter.com/B9Qbsx3Wty
"I think it's disappointing that she would say something like that, with respect to 'suppression' of evidence. There was a lot more evidence that came in [during the] Fairfax County [case] than ever came in [during the] London [case]," he said.
"And I took that as not being complimentary of our judge, who's a wonderful judge. I just think that's an improper characterisation."
Chew also said that Depp's team never aimed to 'demonise' Heard during court proceedings after the Aquaman star’s lawyer hinted that her client suffered a character assassination.
"As far as 'demonisation' goes, the cross-examination [of] Ms Heard that was done, I believe, beautifully by Camille Vasquez, was not intended to demonise her. It really was predicated on her own words," he said.
"So, the cross examination was based on the statements that Ms Heard had made and presenting her with some audio that, she herself, had made and really asking for her explanation.”
He added: "I don't think that's demonisation, I think that's cross-examination."
Statement in response to Depp's recent TikTok message to his fans.
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 7, 2022
"As Johnny Depp says he's 'moving forward,' women's rights are moving backward. The verdict's message to victims of domestic violence is...be afraid to stand up and speak out.”
Spokesperson for #AmberHeard
Chew's comments come in the wake of the Aquaman star's most recent statement lashing out at the verdict.
"The verdict's message to victims of domestic violence is [to] be afraid to stand up and speak out," Heard's statement read, as per Law & Crime reporter Cathy Russon.
Heard's statement came hours after Depp dropped his first ever TikTok to thank his fans for their unwavering support.
"We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together," Depp said in the social media caption.
"We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together."
Featured Image Credit: UPI / Alamy Stock Photo. REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo.
Topics: News, US News, Johnny Depp
