MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

Long jury deliberation or a short one? Here is what works best for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard

Kimberly Lau, a partner at a New York legal firm, said the jury will find it 'challenging' as both parties are 'trained actors'

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s 'blockbuster' Virginia court trial will soon conclude as closing arguments are expected on May 27. Immediately after that, seven jury members overseeing the case will reportedly begin their deliberations. The case began on April 11 after the two actors, formerly married, sued each other because of a 2018 op-ed piece written by Heard in which she claimed she was a domestic abuse survivor.

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star demanded $50 million in the lawsuit while Heard, counter suing him, asked for $100 million. The more-than-a-month-long trial has heard a lot of shocking allegations and revelations surrounding the 36-year-old actress and Depp’s past relationship. The court was also presented with a mountain of evidence from both sides. So, it’s quite tough to say how much time jurors will need to make a decision, and whether a long jury deliberation or a short one will be favorable to either party.

READ MORE

What happens if Amber Heard loses? Huge financial hit coupled with PR disaster could end her career

'Sickening': Amber Heard SMIRKS while Johnny Depp recounts how she severed his finger

Kimberly Lau, a partner at New York legal firm Warshaw Burstein, threw some light on the upcoming court proceedings as she told Sky News: “Both sides have done a fair job at exposing the other's less than finer moments. What will make this trial particularly challenging for a jury is the fact that both parties are trained actors whose job is to make the audience believe they are, in fact, the role they play.”

Lau continued: “The testimony of the witnesses and documentary evidence will be even more essential for the jury to determine who is really telling the truth and who may be merely acting out a role,” before adding, “Having a jury of several individuals - in this case, seven - makes a big difference in the deliberation process. The opinion of one is not enough; all seven must agree. And while judges, unlike juries, already have an understanding of the law, the jury is comprised of several individuals whose life experiences can have an impact on how they view and weigh the evidence at trial.”

Another factor that is not expected to influence the ruling but has clearly made an impact on media and public opinion is the televised trial. Matthew Dando, a partner and media law expert at London firm Wiggin, explained: “It will inevitably mean that the advocates are not just playing to the people in the courtroom, but directly through television... they're playing directly to the public. So it affects the dynamic of the trial.”

Alex Wade, also a partner at Wiggin, noted, “Juries come with an inherent unpredictability, and that's why if this were being heard again by purely a judge alone you'd probably expect it to go the same way as the UK case. But as Matt says, the various counsel in the US will play to the jury.”

As said by Dando and Wade, the general public is seriously invested in this trial with the majority seemingly taking Depp's side and slamming Heard. A lot of people have lately tweeted about ‘The Rum Diary’ actress’ behavior and reaction inside the court with one user saying, “I just hope one of the jury who gets into that deliberation was looking at her, her display throughout Johnny’s testimony says everything you need to know.” “I hope the jury are able to see what's not being said. If she claims such horrific abuse, why is she not seething at Johnny for what she would see as total lies and fabrication against her? Nope. She just looks smug. Like she's enjoying his pain,” the second user remarked.

“#DeppVHeardTrial #deppvsheard So - closing arguments are Friday... Is the judge expecting the jury will complete deliberation by the end of the day?  Are they sequestered?  Or will they go into deliberation on Tuesday? #DeppHeardTrial,” the third one mused. And, when a person asked, “Hi @aburkhartlaw , I'm not sure if someone already asked u this, but how long usually do jury deliberation last? Or when do u think d Depp vs Heard verdict will come out? Will it take days or months? Sorry, I'm jst really curious 😊,” another one replied: “It depends. Depp testified early. Ultimately the jury is left with Rottenborn's failed impeachment and what appears floundering digs, and Depp's insistence he's innocent with more witnesses against Heard, close to deliberation. It's a risk, for sure, but calculated. IMO.”

Though there is no guarantee who will win the case, Texas civil lawyer Katherine Lizardo speculated that jurors will give the decision keeping in mind the "larger issues". "Ordinary people in general might be less sympathetic whenever the parties are rich or have more money than them. But I think in this situation, there is a chance that the jury might consider awarding damages to whoever wins their defamation claim because of the big issues here," Lizardo told The New York Post.

She added: "The jury might say that one of them committed actual malice … that they will say, ‘You have severely damaged the reputation of the other and now you have made us sit here and listen to all of this for the past six weeks’ and they might be upset in that way. I think the jury is very much invested in this. If they are going to get upset, I think now it’s not about the money anymore, it’s about the principle for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard."