Depp Heard trial verdict expected Wednesday | CTB NEWS

In the ongoing trial between Depp and Heard, the jury is expected to return with a verdict on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the jury deliberated for a second day in the defamation allegations of Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard over their tumultuous and ultimately unsuccessful marriage.

The seven-person civil jury heard the attorneys' closing arguments on Friday, then debated for roughly two hours before adjourning for the long Memorial Day weekend. On Tuesday, jurors spent another seven hours deliberating. On Wednesday, they will pick up where they left off in Fairfax County Circuit Court.

In an opinion piece published in 2018, Heard referred to herself as "a public figure symbolizing domestic abuse," which Depp claims libeled him. Depp has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Heard. After the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star's attorney dismissed Heard's charges as false, Heard filed a $100 million complaint against him. Both people blame the other for the demise of their careers.

During the six week trial, many salacious details about their brief marriage were revealed in testimony. Heard said that Depp had assaulted her more than a dozen times, either physically or sexually. According to Depp's evidence, Heard invented the assault charges and repeatedly attacked him physically. He also stated that he never struck her.

Both parties' attorneys told the jury that a win would restore their clients' normal lives.

On Tuesday, attorneys for Depp requested Judge Penney Azcarate to tell the jury to ignore some of Heard's final argument.

According to the written motion filed on Depp's behalf, Heard's counsel warned the jury that its verdict would serve as a message to "every victim of domestic abuse everywhere." The jury would be sending a message that "no matter what you do as an abuse victim, you always have to do more," Heard's attorney Benjamin Rottenborn told them.

No matter how frank you are about your flaws and how much work you put into your relationships, no one will trust you unless you are flawless. Rottenborn warned against sending the threatening mail.

Depp's lawyers argued that Rottenborn's statement unjustly shifted the jury's attention away from the case at hand and into a broader social issue.

Depp's lawyers contended that Ms. Heard's argument inappropriately invited the jury to judge the case "based on passion and prejudice," and that a specific jury instruction was needed to remedy the situation.

Because the case is now in the hands of the jury, the judge told Depp's lawyers that she would not consider their motion.

Public relations for Heard did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the motion.