Steven Avery’s lawyer has said today’s verdict was a ‘great verdict’ for Johnny Depp and that she's 'so happy' for him after his win against ex-wife Amber Heard.
Kathleen Zellner, who has worked on the high-profile Avery case that featured on Netflix’s Making A Murder, was also an advisor on Depp’s case.
Speaking on Law and Crime Network, Zellner said: “I think that the jury absolutely reached the right verdict. I think it's hugely vindicating and exonerating for Johnny; it's something he’s really had to deal with, particularly since the UK verdict.
“I think it’s a great victory. It reassures me how well juries work and why we can trust jurors to come to the right decision. I think the case boiled down to a contest of credibility.”
Advert
Zellner added: “I’m so happy for him. He’s been reborn.”
She then praised Depp’s team for their hard work - branding them ‘outstanding’.
Zellner said she believes Heard lost due to the ‘forensic evidence’ causing the case to collapse.
“It failed on the forensic evidence, those beating and abuse she described did not happen.
Advert
“I’ve been doing criminal cases for over thirty years and the forensic evidence simply wasn’t there. She just did not suffer those injuries.”
Zellner also claimed that Heard ‘wasn’t afraid’ of Depp.
The lawyer said Depp got in touch with her office directly to ask if she would help on his case and mentioned to her that he had seen her on Making A Murderer.
Advert
At the time, Zellner was set to take on a murder case so didn’t think she would be able to offer assistance, but said she was able to come in ‘right at the end’ to help out as a consultant.
The six-week long trial, which saw Depp suing his ex over a 2018 piece she wrote in The Washington Post, came to its conclusion today.
After almost 13-hours of deliberations over three days, the jury found in favour of Depp and awarded him $15 million in damages - while Heard was awarded $2 million in her countersuit.
Following the verdict, Depp released a lengthy statement in which he thanked the jury for ‘giving his life back’ and his fans for their support.
The statement read in part: "Six years ago, my life, the life of my children, the lives of those closest to me, and also, the lives of the people who for many, many years have supported and believed in me were forever changed.
Advert
“All in the blink of an eye.
“False, very serious and criminal allegations were levied at me via the media, which triggered an endless barrage of hateful content, although no charges were ever brought against me. It had already traveled around the world twice within a nanosecond and it had a seismic impact on my life and my career.
“And six years later, the jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.
“My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought.”
Featured Image Credit: Law and Crime Network/AlamyTopics: US News, Johnny Depp