Johnny Depp has been refused permission to appeal a High Court ruling that he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Back in November, the 57-year-old lost his libel case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), over a 2018 article in The Sun that labelled him a “wife beater”.
Following a lengthy trial in the UK, Mr Justice Nicol dismissed the actor’s libel claim, and told the court: “The claimant has not succeeded in his action for libel.”
“Although he has proved the necessary elements of his cause of action in libel, the defendants have shown that what they published in the meaning which I have held the words to bear was substantially true.”
“I have reached these conclusions having examined in detail the 14 incidents on which the defendants rely as well as the overarching considerations which the claimant submitted I should take into account.”
Weeks later, Johnny asked the Court of Appeal to grant him permission to challenge the ruling, but his application has since been refused.
At the Royal Courts of Justice in London today, Lord Justice Underhill said: “We refuse Mr Depp’s application to admit further evidence in support of his proposed appeal and we conclude that the appeal has no real prospect of success and that there is no other compelling reason for it to be heard.”
“We accordingly refuse permission to appeal,” he added, according to the Press Association.
In response to the ruling, a spokeswoman for The Sun said: “The Sun had every confidence that this leave to appeal application would not be granted and are pleased with today’s decision.”
“The case had a full, fair and proper hearing, and today’s decision vindicates the courageous evidence that Amber Heard gave to the court about domestic abuse, despite repeated attempts to undermine and silence her by the perpetrator.”
“The Sun will continue to stand up and campaign for victims of domestic abuse.”
