![Psychologist Says Depp vs Heard Trial Has 'Vindicated' Male Abusers](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt8bbf16c2d7a209e5/blt3e311244c90c7f16/629709d605d78a5f718c714d/Shutterstock.png)
Trigger warning: This article discusses domestic violence
A psychologist has warned that the lawsuit between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has 'vindicated' male abusers.
Depp's high-profile libel case against his ex-wife Heard concluded late last week, and jurors have since begun deliberations.
![The Depp vs Heard trial wrapped last week.](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt8bbf16c2d7a209e5/blt48c6572e68669921/6297081765091b73374af89f/depp.webp)
The Pirates of the Caribbean star is seeking $50 million from Heard after suing her for defamation over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in 2018. Amber Heard is countersuing Depp for $100 million.
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Both sides have testified and accused the other of abuse during the case.
Heard's article does not include a reference to Depp by name, but his legal team argue the article has a 'clear implication that Mr Depp is a domestic abuser', which Depp and his team have said is false.
Jessica Taylor told The Independent she has heard testimonies from women who claim their abusive male partner or ex-partner has referred to them as 'Amber' or 'Ms Heard' when trying to defend themselves.
Dr Taylor – who specialises in sexual violence and victim blaming – said: "Amber Heard has become the personification of victim-blaming and misogyny. The trial has had immense damage and will have ripple effects for years."
![Amber Heard accused her ex-husband of abuse in court.](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt8bbf16c2d7a209e5/blt361ed40d37b27b8f/6297086c16cb2d07781a9128/heard.webp)
During the trial, the court heard a distressing account of an alleged incident that took place in Australia in 2015. Following the incident, Depp alleged that his finger was injured after Heard threw a bottle in his direction. Heard said she was not awake when the incident occurred.
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Providing her own account of the incident, Heard alleged that Depp sexually assaulted her with a bottle on the same night.
![A verdict is expected this week.](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt8bbf16c2d7a209e5/bltc9f0d06d271cebc8/629708e5c852e55ba2215cc4/heard.png)
Text messages Depp sent to Paul Bettany were read in court that said: "Let’s burn Amber.”
He added in another message: “Let’s drown her before we burn her. I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she’s dead.”
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Dr Taylor called these messages 'misogynist'.
The jury will reconvene to deliberate on Wednesday after they did not come to a decision on Friday, while Monday was Memorial Day, a bank holiday in the US. Deliberations continued on Tuesday, but a verdict was not reached.
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Topics: News, Johnny Depp