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REVEALED: Amber Heard Stayed In A $22,000-a-month Mansion During Defamation Battle With Depp

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Source: spamchronicles.com

Amber Heard was staying in a luxury mansion in Virginia during her blockbuster libel trial against Johnny Depp, which it turned out was costing $22,500 a month.

Though the 36-year-old bailed on the 13,000-square-foot home throughout the trial, she says she can’t afford to pay the more than $8 million she owes her ex-husband after a jury ruled has that she defamed him.

The actress was ordered to pay Depp $58.15 million – $10 million in compensation and $5 million in punitive damages.

The judge later capped damages at the Virginia maximum of $350,000. After deducting the $2 million Depp had to pay Heard, she owes him a total of $8.35 million.

Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredhoft, recently announced that the actress “absolutely” cannot afford to pay the damages and said she intends to appeal the verdict.

Amber Heard on June 1, the day she was sentenced to pay her ex-husband Johnny Depp $15 million in defamation damages

Amber Heard on June 1, the day she was sentenced to pay her ex-husband Johnny Depp $15 million in defamation damages

Despite her representation’s claims of financial troubles, Heard curled up in the lap of luxury with her family during the trial, according to TMZ.

The actress reportedly rented a 13,000-square-foot mansion in McLean, Virginia, a leafy DC suburb and a 25-minute drive from Fairfax Country Courthouse, where her trial took place over 6 weeks.

The home sits on an acre of land and features a tennis court, home theater, eight bedrooms and two sweeping staircases at the entrance.

A Zillow listing for the property describes it as “one of the most distinctive and private estates on offer in McLean” and raves about a “two-story grand foyer with an elegant double sweeping staircase, a real ‘wow’ and an entertainers dream.”

pictures of the luxurious $22,000-a-month mansion Amber Heard stayed in during defamation battle

Amber Heard, 36, reportedly rented this McLean, Virginia mansion for $22,500 a month during her Johnny Depp defamation trial

Amber Heard, 36, reportedly rented this McLean, Virginia mansion for $22,500 a month during her Johnny Depp defamation trial

The 13,000-square-foot mansion features these sweeping double staircases in its two-story grand entryway

The 13,000-square-foot mansion features these sweeping double staircases in its two-story grand entryway

Heard's attorney, Elaine Bredhoft, recently announced that the actress herself

Two sweeping staircases at the entrance

A huge living room in the mansion Heard rented during her Johnny Depp defamation trial

A huge living room in the mansion Heard rented during her Johnny Depp defamation trial

A view from the living room into the kitchen of the huge mansion Amber Heard rented during her trial of Johnny Depp

A view from the living room into the kitchen of the huge mansion Amber Heard rented during her trial of Johnny Depp

The huge kitchen in the house Amber Heard rented during her Johnny Depp trial

The huge kitchen in the house Amber Heard rented during her Johnny Depp trial

The home sits on an acre of land and features a tennis court, home theater, eight bedrooms and two sweeping staircases at the entrance

The home sits on an acre of land and features a tennis court, home theater, eight bedrooms and two sweeping staircases at the entrance

One of the two dining rooms in the mansion was rented during her trial of ex-husband Johnny Depp

One of the two dining rooms in the mansion was rented during her trial of ex-husband Johnny Depp

Another dining room in the mansion. Heard's attorney recently stated that Heard could not afford to pay the damages she owed Depp

Another dining room in the mansion. Heard’s attorney recently stated that Heard could not afford to pay the damages she owed Depp

One of the eight bedrooms in the massive mansion in McLean, Virginia. It is about 25 minutes from the courthouse where the trial took place

One of the eight bedrooms in the massive mansion in McLean, Virginia. It is about 25 minutes from the courthouse where the trial took place

A huge bedroom in the mansion that Heard rented. The house has eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms

A living room with wide windows and inlaid bookshelves and desks

A living room with wide windows and inlaid bookshelves and desks

The mansion Heard rents has a hot tub and large steam room as part of the on-site spa

The mansion Heard rents has a hot tub and large steam room as part of the on-site spa

The house includes a professional home cinema with lounge chairs and a projector

The house includes a professional home cinema with lounge chairs and a projector

The private indoor tennis court at the end of a sloping backyard under the sunny Virginia skies

The private indoor tennis court at the end of a sloping backyard under the sunny Virginia skies

The view from the large terrace at the back of the house onto the house's private tennis court

The view from the large terrace at the back of the house onto the house’s private tennis court

A living room in the luxurious mansion that Amber Heard rented during her trial of Johnny Depp.

A living room in the luxurious mansion that Amber Heard rented during her trial of Johnny Depp.

A living room just off the grand front entrance of the mansion Heard rented during her defamation trial

A living room just off the grand front entrance of the mansion Heard rented during her defamation trial

A view from the entry-living room onto the sweeping double staircases of the home's two-story foyer

A view from the entry-living room onto the sweeping double staircases of the home’s two-story foyer

A living room with wraparound windows in the mansion Heard rented during her trial of Depp

A living room with wraparound windows in the mansion Heard rented during her trial of Depp

A carpeted daybed between built-in bookshelves in the mansion that Heard rented

A carpeted daybed between built-in bookshelves in the mansion that Heard rented

A wine rack, wine refrigerator, and dry bar in the mansion Heard rented in McLean, Virginia

A wine rack, wine refrigerator, and dry bar in the mansion Heard rented in McLean, Virginia

The rental records in the listing do not include Heard’s name, but do show the property was rented on May 4, 2020. It is unclear if the property was leased when the trial began on April 11.

Witnesses reportedly said Heard was seen at the home of her sister Whitney and daughter Oomagh Paige. Heard’s Security was also seen at the property.

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Pope Francis to undergo intestinal surgery and will be hospitalized for several days

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Pope Francis went to the hospital on Wednesday for surgery on his intestine, two years after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine.

The Vatican said Francis, 86, would be put under general anesthesia and would be hospitalized for several days.

Pope Francis appeared at his weekly general audience on Wednesday, a day after he went to the hospital for a checkup.

The Vatican provided no details about the medical tests Francis underwent on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. Francis, 86, appeared in good form, though, at his audience in St. Peter’s Square, zipping around the square in his popemobile greeting the faithful. He also had two meetings Wednesday morning beforehand, the Vatican said.

Francis spent three days at the Gemelli hospital in late March. Initially, the Vatican said he had gone in for scheduled tests, but the pontiff later revealed he had felt pain in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed. He was put on intravenous antibiotics and was released April 1, quipping that he was “still alive.”

The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed when he was a young man. He also suffers from sciatica nerve pain and has been using a wheelchair and walker for more than a year because of strained ligaments in his knee.

Francis has had a packed schedule of late, with multiple audiences each day. The Vatican has recently confirmed a travel-filled August, when the Holy See and Italy are usually on vacation, with a four-day visit to Portugal the first week of August and a similarly long trip to Mongolia starting Aug. 31.

In a sign that the trips were very much on, the Vatican on Tuesday released the planned itinerary for Francis’ visit to Portugal for World Youth Day events from Aug. 2-6. The itinerary confirms a typically busy schedule that includes all the protocol meetings of an official state visit plus multiple events with young people and a day trip to the Marian shrine at Fatima.

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My son was born with bulging eyes and totally blind – but baffled doctors don’t know why

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A mother is appealing for answers over the mysterious condition which left her son with bulging eyes.

Kobi-Jai Morgan, who is registered blind, was born last March with bruising around his eyes and was unable to open them.

He spent six weeks in hospital, where doctors discovered the structure of his eyes had not fully developed but could not figure out why.

Despite appointments with specialists, medics have been left scratching their heads over what is causing his condition.

His mother, Morgan Nottingham, from Ystalyfera in South Wales, is now desperately searching for answers.

The 24-year-old’s labour was induced in last spring at a hospital in Bridgend, where she had a difficult delivery.

Kobi-Jai was then transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit at Singleton Hospital in Swansea and put on ventilation and a feeding tube.

As well as bruising around the eyes, he had a large hole in his heart and a floppy larynx — the tube that helps carry air to the lungs and contains vocal cords.

His unknown condition means his eyes are light-sensitive and he spends a lot of time in discomfort.

As a result, he sometimes scratches his eye and pushes his eyelids towards his eyebrows when they are irritated.

His mother administers four different types of eye drops to Kobi’s eyes every day and he wears specialist transparent glasses made by Cardiff University.

The 15-month-old has been to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and visited private specialists — but still does not have a diagnosis.

However, tests show that he can see some light and shadows.

Ms Nottingham said: ‘We’ve come to terms with the fact that he might not have his vision for life. But we get looks as it is.

‘He has bulgy eyes and the bottom of his eyes scrape across his cheek. He doesn’t realise while he’s little but it’s really sad, bless him.’

Kobi-Jai can now tell his mother when his eyes are bothering him.

She added: ‘He cannot carry on with his eyes like that. There has to be someone out there that knows something.

‘This is completely new to us. When he starts going to school — you know what kids are like. He has children coming up to him already and saying: “Oh mammy he looks scary”. I want answers.’

Ms Nottingham called for more research and resources that could help Kobi-Jai.

She said: ‘At the moment we have found no blind support centres, schools or sensory classes locally. The closest specialist school is in Birmingham.

‘We want to bring more awareness and help and support other parents going through the same thing. We’re all learning.’

A fundraiser set up to support Kobi’s medical care has raised over £12,500.

Family friends have organised a 12-hour charity walk, five-a-side football tournament and bike ride in a bid to raise more funds to help with his care.

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US actor Danny Masterson found guilty on two rape counts

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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Masterson arrives at the Los Angeles court to learn his fate with his wife, Bijou Phillips

A jury in Los Angeles has found US actor Danny Masterson guilty on two out of three counts of rape.

The star of That ’70s Show, a TV series, faces up to 30 years in prison. He was led from court in handcuffs.

Three women, all former members of the Church of Scientology, accused the actor of sexual assault at his Hollywood home from 2001-03.

Prosecutors argued Masterson had relied on his status as a prominent Scientologist to avoid accountability.

The jury of seven women and five men was unable to reach a verdict on a third count after a week of deliberations, ending up deadlocked at 8-4.

One of his victims, who was raped in 2003, said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press: “I am experiencing a complex array of emotions – relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness – knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behavior.”

Masterson’s wife, actress and model Bijou Phillips, wept as he was led away, CBS News reports. Other family and friends sat stone-faced.

Another jury in an earlier trial was unable to reach a verdict in December 2022.

Prosecutors chose to retry Masterson and this time the judge allowed attorneys to present new evidence that had been barred from the first trial.

Though the actor was not charged with drugging his victims, the jury heard testimony that the women had been dosed before he raped them.

Masterson was first accused of rape in 2017 during the height of the #MeToo movement. He responded by saying that he had not been charged or convicted of a crime, and that in the climate at the time “it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused”.

Charges came after a three-year investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Prosecutors did not file charges in two other cases because of insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations expiring.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the Church of Scientology had helped cover up the assaults – an allegation the organisation has categorically denied.

At the time of the assaults, Masterson and all three of his accusers were Scientologists. Several of the women said it took them years to come forward because Church of Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the rape to police.

Instead, they were forced to rely on the Church’s “internal justice system”, prosecutors said.

Scientology officials told one survivor she would be kicked out of the Church unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement and accepted a payment of $400,000 (£320,000), according to prosecutors.

Judge Charlaine Olmedo allowed both sides to discuss the dogma and practices of Scientology.

But Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson told jurors during the trial: “The Church taught his victims, ‘Rape isn’t rape, you caused this, and above all, you are never allowed to go to law enforcement.'”

Throughout the trial, the defence tried to undermine the credibility of the “Jane Does” by focusing on inconsistencies in their testimony and their supposed drive to get “revenge” against their former Church.

During closing arguments, Masterson’s defence lawyer said of the survivors: “If you are looking for motives why people are not being truthful… there are motives all over the place.”

Although the Church of Scientology was not a defendant in the case, before closing arguments began, a lawyer with ties to the Church emailed the district attorney’s office to complain about the way the Church was portrayed during the retrial.

The defence also argued that the prosecution had relied heavily on testimony about drugging because there was an absence of evidence of any force or violence.

Masterson’s lawyers tried, unsuccessfully, to have a mistrial declared.

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