Heard/Depp trial: seven lawsuits involving celebrities that caused a stir

The defamation lawsuit between actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard has caused a lot of ink to flow from its inception to its conclusion on Thursday. Not only was it closely followed by the traditional media, but social networks also played an important role in the dissemination of this trial.

• Read also: Johnny Depp’s court victory is “potentially catastrophic” for victims of violence

• Read also: Who is Camille Vasquez, Johnny Depp’s “star” lawyer?

However, this is not the only trial that has been widely publicized. Here are seven others that have happened in the United States, but also at home.

bill cosby

The 80-year-old American actor was found guilty of sexual assault in a highly publicized trial held in April 2018.

The events date back to January 2004 when Bill Cosby abused a former basketball player at his Pennsylvania home when she was unable to defend herself.

Mr. Cosby was released from prison on June 30, 2021, but was again charged with sexual assault, this time against a minor. The event would have happened 50 years ago.

michele richard

The Quebec star is quite well known in the justice system, especially when it comes to driving problems.

The 76-year-old artist had to go to court four times. On his first two visits, she was acquitted, but in 2009 and 2019 he received penalties including a $3,000 fine and a one-year license suspension.

R. Kelly

The trial of the singer R. Kelly is considered a milestone in the #MeToo movement: it is the first time that the majority of the plaintiffs are black women and accuse a black artist. He was found guilty on September 21, 2021 by the New York court of having led a “system” of sexual exploitation of young people, including minors, for years. R. Kelly is accused of having perpetrated these crimes with total impunity, taking advantage of her notoriety. She always denied the facts.

jacob hoggard

The trial of Jacob Hoggard, lead singer of the Canadian band Hedley, began on May 5. The trial is still ongoing and is expected to conclude in June.

The 37-year-old musician was charged with sexual assault with bodily harm and inappropriate sexual contact with two people in 2018, including a teenage girl. The events allegedly occurred in 2016 in Toronto.

Hoggard has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

michael jackson

Pop singer Michael Jackson was facing charges of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and racketeering, three counts of lewd acts against a child, attempted lewd acts against a child and four counts of administration of intoxicants.

Accused in 1993 of sexual abuse, the king of pop will see his charges drop after an amicable agreement. But the second trial he will face in 2003 on similar charges is the one that caught the attention of the media and that everyone remembers. Jackson was finally acquitted in 2005, four years before his death.

Eric Lapointe

The hugely popular singer from Quebec pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in Montreal Municipal Court in 2020. The events occurred at a party to celebrate his 50th birthday.^me anniversary.

“I’m sincerely sorry for what happened,” he told the judge. My intoxication in no way justifies my behavior, it is an additional reason to continue the fight that I have been leading against alcoholism for several years.

Mr. Lapointe will ultimately have no criminal record for the actions he committed.

Genoveva Sabourin

Convicted of harassing American actor Alec Baldwin in 2013, Geneviève had been made much of in the US and Canadian media. She was sentenced to six months in prison.

Back in Quebec, Mr.^me Sabourin will have new run-ins with the law. She was found guilty on April 7 of obstructing the work of a special agent at the Longueuil courthouse.