Judge slams Amber Heard’s request for a mistrial after jury fraud claim
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Credit: AP
Amber Heard’s request for a mistrial in the defamation case with Johnny Depp has been dismissed by the judge.
Here is everything you need to know.
Amber Heard’s fraud claim was dismissed by the judge
According to the latest reports, Judge Penney S. Azcarate has decided there was no evidence to support Amber Heard’s fraud claim.
Last week, Heard’s legal team argued that one of the jurors on the libel trial was not the one summoned for jury duty.
Azcarate, who presided over the gruesome six-week defamation trial in Fairfax County, wrote, ‘The juror was vetted, sat for the entire jury, deliberated, and reached a verdict.’
He added, ‘The only evidence before this Court is that this juror and all jurors followed their oaths, the Court’s instructions, and orders. This Court is bound by the competent decision of the jury.’
Azcarate shut down Heard’s claim by saying, ‘Voir dire was conducted in a fair and impartial manner, with the Court and both parties examining the potential jurors. There is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing.’
Requests for a mistrial
In late June, Amber Heard’s legal team requested a new investigation insisting that ‘Juror No. 15 was not, in fact, the same individual as listed on the jury panel.’
They mentioned that a 77-year-old person was supposed to be on the jury, however a 52-year-old with the same last name and address showed up and was seated.
The Aquaman actress’ lawyers further claimed that it is ‘deeply troubling for an individual not summoned for jury duty nonetheless to appear for jury duty and serve on a jury.’
They added that Heard was not given the proper ‘due process’ and hence requested a mistrial ‘and a new trial ordered.’
Johnny Depp’s Brown Rudnick legal team fired back on Monday, insisting that the original ruling stood and repeated their evidence.
They described the 36-year-old actress’ stance as ‘baseless’ and ‘frivolous’.
Depp’s lawyer said that Heard had ‘ample time’ to raise the wrong juror issue before the trial. However, she addressed it after the verdict.
They wrote, ‘Ms. Heard chose not to raise this alleged ‘discrepancy’ with the Court during the voir dire process or at any time during the six-week trial and thereby waived it.’
Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft has also alleged that the $10 million awarded to the 59-year-old actor were ‘excessive’. She also said that Heard is in no position to afford to pay the damages amount.
