Johnny Depp and Amber Heard begin dating after meeting on the set of comedy film The Rum Diary.
- Early 2013
Depp is alleged to have been physically violent to Heard for the first time.
Heard claims the actor slapped her three times after she joked about a tattoo he got on his arm during his relationship with actress Winona Ryder. He denies the allegation.
- 2015
Depp and Heard marry at a private ceremony in Los Angeles in February.
The couple take a trip to Australia in March, which Heard describes as "a three-day hostage situation", claiming Depp is abusive while drinking heavily and taking drugs.
Depp again denies the allegations and says Heard lost her temper after a conversation about a post-nuptial agreement.
- 2016
In May, the pair separate after an incident in which Heard claims Depp became angry at their LA penthouse and destroyed property with a bottle of champagne.
Heard files a petition for the dissolution of their marriage as well as a temporary domestic violence restraining order.
The estranged couple reach an agreement concerning the dissolution of their marriage. Heard later donates her $US7 million settlement to charity.
- 2017
The couple become formally divorced in January.
- 2018
The Sun newspaper in Britain publishes an article in which Depp is referred to as a "wife-beater" in the headline.
The actor files his libel claim against News Group Newspapers, the owner of The Sun.
Heard publishes an article in the Washington Post in December that deals with her personal experiences of domestic violence.
It is titled: "I spoke up against sexual violence - and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change", but does not mention Depp by name.
- 2019
Depp launches a $US50 million ($A70 million) defamation lawsuit against Heard, with his lawyers claiming the article falsely implies she was physically and sexually abused by the actor.
He claims the piece caused him to be dropped from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and that Heard was the one who had been abusive towards him.
- 2020
The pair meet in the Royal Courts of Justice in London for Depp's NGN libel suit.
Following a 16-day trial in July, a judge finds the content of the article proven to be "substantially true".
- 2022
Depp's 2019 defamation case against Heard begins on April 11 at the Fairfax County District Court, in Virginia.
Over six weeks, jurors hear from family members, friends, colleagues, employees as well as testimony from Depp and Heard.
Multiple instances of alleged abuse are described to the jury, with both parties claiming they are the victims.
On June 1, the jury finds in favour of Depp and says the 2018 article in the Washington Post is defamatory.
Depp is awarded $US15 million in damages from Heard, which the judge reduces to $US10.35 million to comply with state limits on punitive damages.
Depp is ordered to pay Heard $US2 million in damages.
PA with Reuters
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