Ben Rottenborn and Elaine Bredehoft present closing arguments for Amber Heard. Image Source: The Independent  

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s infamous defamation trial is almost at its end, but before the jury announces the verdict, both teams presented their closing arguments in front of the jury to remind them of everything they heard in court for six weeks.

Amber Heard’s lawyer, Ben Rottenborn, urged the jury to consider the ramifications the trial has had on the domestic abuse survivors and the First Amendment as he pointed out that Johnny Depp’s lawyers want the world to know that "If you didn’t take pictures, it didn’t happen. If you did take pictures, they’re fake. If you didn’t tell your friends, they’re lying. If you did tell your friends, they’re part of the hoax. If you didn’t seek medical treatment, you weren’t injured. If you did seek medical treatment, you’re crazy. " And he added that at one point when you decide that enough is enough and you take measures to save yourself, you are a gold digger.

Ben Rottenborn reminded the jury that the op-ed published in 2018 in the Washington Post did not mention Johnny Depp by name and was focused on political themes related to the #MeToo movement and was not a hit piece like Johnny Depp assumed it to be. The lawyer stated to the jury that they could decide without wading into any of the allegations, facts, or evidence that were provided during the trial about the abuse Amber Heard endured at the hands of Johnny Depp. Ben Rottenborn said that a jury can decide that the statements were true and are protected by the First Amendment.

Amber Heard countersued Johnny Depp after the statements Adam Waldman (Johnny Depp’s attorney) claimed that the accusations by the actress were fake, hoax, and fraudulent and later said that Johnny Depp and his team started a social media smear campaign against her which has been going. Amber Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, later in her closing argument, mentioned that there was no hoax in the accusations but that the trial was Johnny Depp’s attempt to fulfill his promise of total global humiliation against Amber Heard.

Amber Heard’s attorney provided the jury with the text messages from Johnny Depp to his close friends on several occasions and mentioned that his texts are enough to prove that he abused Amber Heard verbally, emotionally, physically, or sexually. Picking one of his text exchanges, Ben Rottenborn said that these are the words that are a window into the heart and mind of America's favorite pirate. Ben Rottenborn alleged that the witnesses Johnny Depp had on the stand, some in person and some via video link, were on his payroll and thus could not say the truth out loud and added that if Johnny Depp abused Amber Heard once, she wins.

Elaine Bredehoft mentioned that the smear campaign against Amber Heard consumed her and went on to destroy her life. The lawyers stated that Johnny Depp has always blamed other people, refused to take accountability for his actions, and said that just because people read the piece and recalled that Amber Heard was previously married to Johnny Depp and in 2016 she accused him of abuse, doesn't indicate she wrote the article with defamatory connotations in mind.

Ben Rottenborn said that Johnny Depp in this courtroom right now is laughing and making snide remarks as evidence videos are being played, but it's not a laughing matter. Who does that? He added can you imagine watching your husband, the person you love, behaving in a violent way like a wild animal. Just like Johnny Depp’s lawyers, Amber Heard’s lawyers Ben Rottenborn and Elaine Bredehoft presented the evidence pictures, text messages, documents, and videos that were previously presented for the jury to go through them once again before they rest the case. 

Elaine Bredehoft said that Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for $50 million and they sent a message back saying fine, we’re going to sue for $100 million because they wanted to show Johnny Depp what he had done to Amber Heard. She quickly clarified that they do not want $100 million, but they are just asking the jury to look at the damages in the trial and be fair and reasonable. During the rebuttal with 6 minutes in hand, Ben Rottenborn mentioned to the jury that people wanted to work with Amber Heard; studios liked her; co-stars liked her; she tests well, but she was not allowed to work because of the negativity that comes along with her association with Johnny Depp and Adam Waldman.

Ben Rottenborn urged the jury to stand up for victims of domestic violence who suffer in silence worldwide, for the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of expression, including the right to talk freely about your personal life. The attorney rested his case by stating that the jury should give Amber Heard her voice back. 

During Amber Heard’s closing argument, it was reported that there was an Amber Alert that interrupted the argument, but later it was confirmed that it was a storm warning for the surrounding area of Fairfax, Virginia. The jury could not reach a decision on Friday and will be picking up from where they left on Tuesday.