Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor

Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor

The Defendants established, on the balance of probabilities and with sufficiently strong evidence, that the great majority of the alleged incidents of domestic violence by the Claimant against Amber Heard did occur, and thus the imputations conveyed by the publications were substantially true. The statutory defence of truth under section 2 of the Defamation Act 2013 was made out, providing a complete defence to the libel claim. The claim was therefore dismissed.

Parties
Claimant: John Christopher Depp II; 1st Defendant: News Group Newspapers Ltd.; 2nd Defendant: Dan Wootton
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 November 2020
Procedural Posture
Libel Claim / Final Judgment After Full Trial
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Libel, Defence of Truth, Domestic Violence Allegations, Burden and Standard of Proof, Publication of Defamatory Material
Defamation Media Law Libel Defence of Truth Domestic Violence Allegations Burden and Standard of Proof Publication of Defamatory Material

Case Brief

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Parties

John Christopher Depp II

Claimant

News Group Newspapers Ltd.

1st Defendant

Dan Wootton

2nd Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Claim / Final Judgment After Full Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Defendants' publications were defamatory of the Claimant in the meanings alleged
  2. 2 Whether the Defendants have established the statutory defence of truth under section 2 of the Defamation Act 2013
  3. 3 Whether the Claimant committed acts of domestic violence against Amber Heard as alleged

Ratio Decidendi

The Defendants established, on the balance of probabilities and with sufficiently strong evidence, that the great majority of the alleged incidents of domestic violence by the Claimant against Amber Heard did occur, and thus the imputations conveyed by the publications were substantially true. The statutory defence of truth under section 2 of the Defamation Act 2013 was made out, providing a complete defence to the libel claim. The claim was therefore dismissed.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • The claim for libel is dismissed.
  • The Defendants are entitled to rely on the statutory defence of truth under section 2 of the Defamation Act 2013.