Why did the Depp-Heard libel outcomes differ in the US and UK?

Unlike the jury trial in the US, the judge in the UK case rejected attempts by Depp’s lawyers to attack Heard’s credibility. Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images

Less than two years ago, Johnny Depp lost a UK libel case against the Sun after his ex-wife Amber Heard gave evidence to back claims in the newspaper that he was a wife-beater.

The judge, Mr Justice Nicol, said the Sun had proved its article to be “substantially true” and found that 12 of 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence against Heard had occurred.