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Actress Amber Heard exits the courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia
Photo: SHAWN THEW/EPA
In the defamation lawsuit that Hollywood star Johnny Depp has filed against his ex-wife Amber Heard, a motion to dismiss the lawsuit has failed.
Judge Penney Azcarate dismissed the motion Tuesday in the Fairfax, Virginia trial.
Heard's lawyers had asked Depp's lawyers to dismiss the lawsuit as unfounded after the end of the evidence.
Depp failed to prove that Heard slandered him in an article for the Washington Post that appeared at the end of 2018.
At the time, the “Aquaman” actress described herself as a victim of domestic violence without naming the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star.
"There is no disputing that he did in fact abuse Amber," said Heard's attorney, Ben Rottenborn.
However, Judge Azcarate stated that sufficient elements had been presented in the ongoing process to justify the continuation of the process.
Ultimately, the jury would have to decide the evidence.
Requests to dismiss a case are common in the US, including during a trial.
They are rarely successful.
The trial between Depp and Heard in Fairfax near the capital Washington began three weeks ago.
Depp and numerous witnesses invited by his lawyers have already testified in the process.
On Tuesday, Heard's attorneys began questioning their own witnesses.
The actress herself is also expected to testify this week.
Depp has sued Heard, to whom he was married between 2015 and 2017, for $50 million in damages.
He accuses the 36-year-old actress of having seriously damaged his career with false allegations of domestic violence.
Heard has responded with a counterclaim against the 58-year-old, demanding $100 million in damages.
She accuses him of “unbridled physical violence”.
Depp denies ever hitting Heard and again accuses her of violent behavior.
Most recently, the security expert Travis McGivern hired by Depp testified via live video.
He reported that Heard punched Depp in the face.
In the process, which was accompanied by great media interest, technology billionaire Elon Musk and actor James Franco were supposed to testify as witnesses.
Both ultimately refused.
ala/AFP