Actor Johnny Depp's wife, Amber Heard has pleaded guilty to a charge of falsifying documents following the illegal smuggling of their two pet dogs to Australia. The actress allegedly violated the country's quarantine laws last year.
Actress Amber Heard along with her husband, Pirates of the Caribbean actor, Johnny Depp attended the scheduled trial Monday, at the Southport Magistrates Court to answer the accusations of illegally smuggling of their Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo on the flight, according to the Guardian. Heard came to visit her husband on the filming of movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in Australia.
Barrister Peter Callaghan, for the prosecution, said no evidence would be submitted on the other two charges Heard had been facing. "Guilty, your honour," Heard spoke before magistrate Bernadette Callaghan after the actress was asked for her plea to falsified charge.
The actress pleaded guilty to providing falsified documents on their arrival at Gold Coast in a private jet in 2015. Depp's wife also faces two other charges, which include illegal importation of an animal, however, the charges were dismissed, the Daily Mail reported. The court has been adjourned, with sentencing set to take place later today.
Jeremy Kirk, Heard's barrister, provided a USB to the court containing a video of the actress expressing her contrition over her alleged breaches of Australia's quarantine laws. The celebrity couple arrived at Southport Magistrates Court on Monday, followed by a large media journalist and photographers awaiting for their arrival.
Despite the legal troubles the couple faces, numerous supporters were also present at the site, cheering, "Go Johnny, we love you". ABC News AU reported, the alleged incident sparked global headlines when the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, said the dogs had better "bugger off" back to the US or he'd arrange to have them put down.
The dogs only were discovered when the couple took a visit to a Gold Coast dog grooming salon. The couple's pet dogs were allegedly not declared to customs officials on arrival. Falsifying document on entry to Australia under the migration act also attracts a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail and a fine of $117,800.
