<![CDATA[Amber Heard asked for a new trial in the Johnny Depp case, but the judge said no]]> https://usagag.com/2022/07/14/amber-heard-asked-for-a-new-trial-in-the-johnny-depp-case-but-the-judge-said-no/ Thu, 14 Jul 2022 07:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://usagag.com Amber Heard asked for a new trial in the Johnny Depp case, but the judge said no According to a court filing, Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Penney Azcarate denied the 36-year-old "Aquaman" star's request for a new trial on multiple grounds on Wednesday.

Heard, who is 36 years old, had said that Juror 15 in her and Depp's case was not the person who was called to serve on the jury, which made her right to a fair trial questionable.

But the judge tossed that claim, writing in her ruling that, “The juror was vetted, sat for the entire jury, deliberated, and reached a verdict.”

Heard, “does not allege juror fifteen’s inclusion on the jury prejudiced her in any way,” the decision reads.

“The only evidence before this court is that the juror and all jurors followed their oaths, the court’s instructions, and orders,” Azcarate continued. “This court is bound by the competent decision of the jury.”

Amber Heard
Despite her complaints over a juror mixup, Amber Heard will not be granted a new trial in the Johnny Depp case.
AP

Heard's lawyers said that the jury mix-up might have happened because two people with the same last name but different ages (77 and 52) live at the same address.

The lawyers said that the older one was called, but it was the younger one who showed up for jury duty and sat through the trial.

Depp's lawyers said that Heard's team could have solved the problem before the trial began because both sides had a "pre-panel jury list" more than two months before the trial.

Johnny Depp
Actor Johnny Depp received a verdict worth millions in his win over ex-wife Amber Heard.
AP

His team went on to argue that even if the swap occurred, Heard wasn’t negatively impacted because the juror was “vetted by the court and the parties counsel.”

The judge sided with Depp’s arguments finding that the jury panel was questioned “for a full day.” 

“There is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing,” Azcarate ruled.

Amber Heard
Heard’s pleas for a new trial in the defamation suit have been rejected by Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Penney Azcarate.
AP

It wasn't clear right away if Heard would try to change the decision.

Last month, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor, who is 59 years old, won $10.35 million in damages in his shocking defamation case against his ex-wife, Heard.

On one of her defamation claims against Depp, Heard won $2 million.

Depp's rep didn't want to say anything. A request for comment from Heard's team wasn't answered right away.

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