The Sun has asked the High Court to throw out Johnny Depp’s libel claim against the newspaper over the Hollywood star’s alleged failure to disclose text messages of him apparently trying to buy drugs in Australia.
The 57-year-old actor is suing the tabloid’s publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article which referred to Mr Depp as a “wife-beater”.
The article related to allegations made against Mr Depp by actress Amber Heard, 34, that he was violent towards her during their marriage – which he strenuously denies.
A three-week trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London – which was due to start in March, but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic – is set to begin on July