Depp’s lawyers challenge The Sun to prove ‘wife beater’ claim

JOHNNY DEPP’S lawyers have told the High Court it is now time for The Sun newspaper to prove what it published in an article at the centre of the actor’s libel claim against the tabloid.

The 57-year-old actor is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor Dan Wootton over an April 2018 article which referred to Mr Depp as a “wife beater”.

The article related to allegations made against Mr Depp by his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, 34, that he was violent towards her during their marriage – claims he strenuously denies.

In a last-ditch attempt to derail the trial, due to start next week, NGN’s legal team asked Mr Justice Nicol to

LIBEL CASE: Johnny Depp is suing The Sun’s publisher over claims in a 2018 article.

strike out Mr Depp’s claim at a hearing last Thursday.

Adam Wolanski QC argued the Hollywood star was in “serious” breach of a court order because he had not given NGN’s legal team what he referred to as the “Australia drugs texts” between Mr Depp and his assistant, Nathan Holmes. Mr Justice Nicol found that Mr Depp had breached an “unless order” requiring him to disclose documents from separate libel proceedings against Ms Heard in the US – which include the text messages.

The judge said: “The Australian drug texts were adverse to the claimant’s pleaded case and/or were supportive of the defendants’ pleaded case.”

However, the judge is now hearing an application by Mr Depp’s legal team for “relief from sanctions” which, if successful, will mean the trial goes ahead despite the actor’s breach.

David Sherborne, representing Mr Depp, argued the trial should go ahead.

The case continues.