Amber Heard’s legal battles are far from over. Australian law enforcement is actively investigating allegations of perjury against the actress stemming from a 2016 court case involving her two dogs. The FBI is now assisting the Australian government in this investigation, a development that has been circulating in online discussions for some time.
The Pistol and Boo Saga: A Timeline of Events
The investigation’s origins can be traced back to April 2015, when Heard and then-husband Johnny Depp traveled to Australia on a private jet for the filming of the fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. Heard failed to declare her two dogs, Pistol and Boo, upon entering the country, a serious breach of Australia’s stringent biosecurity laws. These laws are in place to prevent the spread of diseases like rabies.
The presence of the dogs was discovered, causing a media storm and drawing the ire of Australian officials. The couple was ordered to remove the dogs from the country or face their euthanization. Depp ultimately flew Pistol and Boo back to the United States to avoid such a drastic measure.
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp with their dogs Pistol and Boo.
In July 2015, Australian authorities charged Heard with illegally importing the dogs. She pleaded guilty in April 2016 to a lesser charge of falsifying travel documents, attributing the incident to sleep deprivation, jet lag, and blaming her former assistant, Kate James. Heard and Depp also released an apology video emphasizing the importance of respecting Australia’s biosecurity regulations.
New Developments: UK Trial and Allegations of Perjury
The case resurfaced during Depp’s 2020 libel lawsuit against The Sun newspaper in the UK, in which he sued the publication for calling him a “wife beater.” Depp’s former estate manager, Kevin Murphy, submitted a witness statement alleging that Heard had asked him to pressure James into lying under oath about her role in the dog smuggling incident. James refused and, instead, provided her own statement suggesting that she had believed the paperwork for the dogs was in order before being fired by Heard.
James’s testimony during the Virginia trial further fueled the controversy. She was openly critical of Heard, claiming she was fired shortly after Depp and Heard married. In her UK trial witness statement, James expressed outrage that Heard had shifted the blame onto her for the dogs’ improper entry into Australia. This prompted the Australian government to launch a perjury investigation into Heard’s actions.
The Investigation: A Waiting Game
Despite facing pressure to expedite the process, the investigation remains ongoing. The involvement of the FBI, while not officially confirmed by the Australian government, highlights the complexities of conducting an international investigation. With witnesses residing in both the United States and the UK, collaboration between international agencies is crucial.
Amber Heard leaving court.
As of now, there is no set timeline for the investigation’s conclusion. The Australian government remains committed to pursuing the matter, leaving Amber Heard to contend with the ongoing legal ramifications of the “Pistol and Boo” saga.
