Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s bizarre apology video “Watch”

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp have posted a video apology to Australia for flouting their anti-quarantine laws.

The Hollywood couple had flown back Down Under where Amber had to face two charges of illegal importation for her two Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo and one charge for producing a false document after bringing them into Queensland last year.

Releasing a pro-quarantine video on the Facebook page of Australian deputy prime Minister Barnaby Joyce which was played in court during the hearing, she said, “I am truly sorry Pistol and Boo were not declared. Protecting Australia is important.”

In the 40-second video, which some users joked resembles a hostage tape, Amber and Johnny solemnly call Australia “a unique treasure trove of plants, animals and people”.

Amber said: “Australia is free of many pests and diseases that are commonplace around the world, that is why Australia has to have such strong bio-security laws.”

“And Australians are just as unique, both warm and direct. When you disrespect Australian law, they will tell you firmly,” continued Depp.

Amber said: “I am truly sorry Pistol and Boo were not declared. Protecting Australia is important.”

Johnny delivered the final line: “Declare everything when you enter Australia. Thanks.”

Prosecutors in Queensland state dropped two more serious charges that Amber illegally imported the Yorkshire terriers into the country last year, when Johnny was filming the fifth movie in the Pirates Of The Caribbean series.

A conviction on the illegal importation counts could have sent the actress to prison for up to 10 years.

The false documents charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a fine of more than 10,000 Australian dollars.

But magistrate Bernadette Callaghan sentenced Amber instead to a one month good behaviour bond. She will have to pay a 1,000 Australian dollars fine if she violates the conditions of the bond over the next month.

The couple were swarmed by reporters when they arrived at court on Monday.

They said little apart from Johnny responding “fine, thank you,” to reporters shouting questions about how they — and Pistol and Boo — were doing.

Amber’s lawyer, Jeremy Kirk, told the court that his client never meant to lie on her incoming passenger card by failing to declare she had animals with her.

He said she was simply jetlagged and assumed her assistants had sorted out the paperwork.

Prosecutor Peter Callaghan said ignorance and fatigue were no excuse.
“The laws apply to everyone,” he said.

Agencies/Canadajournal