Ashurst lawyer Robert Todd will represent Amber Heard over bio-security charges in a five-day court hearing next year.
Heard, wife of Hollywood actor Jonny Depp, was charged with the breach earlier this year when she allegedly tried to smuggle the couple’s pet dogs into the country when the couple arrived on the Gold Coast for Depp’s filming of a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. She has officially entered a plea of not guilty.
“My decision to defend these charges, as will become apparent in the appropriate forum of the Court, is not intended to in any way diminish the importance of Australia's laws,” Heard said in a statement yesterday.
“Whilst I am unable to comment on the specific matters before the Court I would like to say that I respect the importance of Australia's laws.
I look forward to attending the hearing of these matters. However as the matters are to be determined by the Court, I will not be making any further statements.”
According to the Courier Mail, lawyers discussed the availability of 12 potential witnesses yesterday, including one whom lawyers did not wish to be a disruption to the court. Neither the prosecutors nor the defence lawyers would comment on whether this referred to Depp, but he is believed to be a potential witness.
