Depp’s libel claim trial against tabloid ‘put off ’
Covid-19 sees trial halted in case against the Sun over ‘violence’ claim
Johnny Depp’s libel claim against the Sun newspaper over allegations that he was violent and abusive towards his ex-wife, Amber Heard, has been postponed due to the global coronavirus crisis.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean star is suing the tabloid’s publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article which referred to the 56-year-old as a “wife-beater”.
A two-week trial was due to start in London on Monday, at which the actor, Ms Heard and a number of Hollywood figures would have had to give evidence.
But Mr Justice Nicol, who was to hear the case, said yesterday that he had “reached the reluctant conclusion” that the trial would have to be adjourned as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The judge said two of Mr Depp’s legal representatives have already had to self-isolate, adding: “No-one can predict whether others involved in the case, and I do not exclude myself, will either become infected or need to self-isolate because … they have come into contact with someone who has or may have the virus.”
He said travel restrictions between the UK and France, where Mr Depp is currently, and the USA, where Ms Heard lives, were a further factor in his decision.
The judge also said it would be more difficult to assess key witnesses over video-link and that having evidence heard in different ways would be “most undesirable”.
There would also be problems with witnesses in California giving evidence “in the middle of the night”, given the time difference, he told the court.
The judge said that, while “social-distancing” measures could be taken to ensure that lawyers, members of the public and press attending court sat apart, there were other factors to take into consideration.
He said the Lord Chief Justice had announced earlier in the week that new criminal trials lasting three days or longer would be adjourned, and that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had raised the prospect of further restrictions on the London transport network.
Mr Justice Nicol added: “I recognise that I am not conducting a criminal trial, but the large number of lawyers involved, as well as the public and press who wish to attend, mean that the numbers involved would be no different.”
He said it had been “said many times” that libel trials should take place as quickly as possible to either provide vindication to the claimant for damage to their reputation, or to dismiss their claim, but that “thesearenotordinarytimes”.