Starstruck jury?

THERE were no real winners in the Johnny depp v Amber Heard libel circus. depp emerged the official winner, but it could well prove a pyrrhic victory, with his career never recovering its previous heights.

I well remember the old libel lottery in Britain when starstruck juries returned perverse verdicts where fame and popularity outweighed the evidence. I once witnessed a jury that had found in favour of a celebrity line up outside the court in the hope of getting his autograph.

Undoubtedly, depp was heavily favoured in the court of public opinion, while Heard was the subject of hostile trolling.

It could be time for the U.S. justice system to follow Britain and leave libel verdicts to judges.

PAUL CONNEW, St albans, Herts.