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| Amber Heard charged with illegally bringing dogs to Australia | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Amber Heard, the actor and wife of Johnny Depp, has been charged with illegally bringing the couple’s dogs to Australia – an incident that captured global attention after the nation’s agriculture minister ordered the animals to be removed from the country or be destroyed. | Amber Heard, the actor and wife of Johnny Depp, has been charged with illegally bringing the couple’s dogs to Australia – an incident that captured global attention after the nation’s agriculture minister ordered the animals to be removed from the country or be destroyed. |
| Heard was charged this week with two counts of illegally importing the dogs, named Pistol and Boo, into Australia and one count of producing a false document, the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions said on Thursday. | Heard was charged this week with two counts of illegally importing the dogs, named Pistol and Boo, into Australia and one count of producing a false document, the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions said on Thursday. |
| The importation charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of AUS$102,000 (£48,000). The false document charge, which relates to information on an incoming passenger card, carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of AU$10,200. | The importation charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of AUS$102,000 (£48,000). The false document charge, which relates to information on an incoming passenger card, carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of AU$10,200. |
| Heard was issued a summons to appear in a Queensland court on 7 September. Her lawyers could petition the court to appear on her behalf, but given the seriousness of the charge, it is likely she will need to appear in person, particularly if she is in Australia at that time, said Bill Potts, a criminal defence lawyer based in the Queensland capital, Brisbane. | Heard was issued a summons to appear in a Queensland court on 7 September. Her lawyers could petition the court to appear on her behalf, but given the seriousness of the charge, it is likely she will need to appear in person, particularly if she is in Australia at that time, said Bill Potts, a criminal defence lawyer based in the Queensland capital, Brisbane. |
| The debacle began in May after the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, accused Depp, 52, of smuggling the couple’s Yorkshire terriers on board his private jet when he returned to Australia to resume filming of the fifth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. | The debacle began in May after the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, accused Depp, 52, of smuggling the couple’s Yorkshire terriers on board his private jet when he returned to Australia to resume filming of the fifth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. |
| Australia has strict quarantine regulations to prevent diseases such as rabies from spreading to its shores. Bringing pets into the country involves applying for a permit and quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days. | Australia has strict quarantine regulations to prevent diseases such as rabies from spreading to its shores. Bringing pets into the country involves applying for a permit and quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days. |
| “If we start letting movie stars – even though they’ve been the sexiest man alive twice – to come into our nation (with pets), then why don’t we just break the laws for everybody?” Joyce said at the time. “It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States.” | “If we start letting movie stars – even though they’ve been the sexiest man alive twice – to come into our nation (with pets), then why don’t we just break the laws for everybody?” Joyce said at the time. “It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States.” |
| Officials gave Depp and Heard 72 hours to send Pistol and Boo back to the US, warning that if they were not, the dogs would be euthanised. A Department of Agriculture officer later escorted the dogs from the couple’s mansion on Queensland’s Gold Coast to the airport, where they were put on to a flight to the US hours before the deadline. | Officials gave Depp and Heard 72 hours to send Pistol and Boo back to the US, warning that if they were not, the dogs would be euthanised. A Department of Agriculture officer later escorted the dogs from the couple’s mansion on Queensland’s Gold Coast to the airport, where they were put on to a flight to the US hours before the deadline. |
| Joyce’s comments were parodied worldwide, prompted a petition to save Pistol and Boo and sparked the social media hashtag WarOnTerrier. | Joyce’s comments were parodied worldwide, prompted a petition to save Pistol and Boo and sparked the social media hashtag WarOnTerrier. |
| Joyce dismissed suggestions on Thursday that charging Heard put Australia in a bad light. “The law is the same for everybody,” he told reporters in the western city of Perth. “There is no preferential treatment here. You come into our nation, you have to abide by biosecurity protocols.” | Joyce dismissed suggestions on Thursday that charging Heard put Australia in a bad light. “The law is the same for everybody,” he told reporters in the western city of Perth. “There is no preferential treatment here. You come into our nation, you have to abide by biosecurity protocols.” |
| The prosecutor’s office would not answer questions about why Depp was not charged, citing the ongoing nature of the case. The Department of Agriculture, which conducted the investigation, also declined to comment, saying the decision on charges was up to prosecutors. | The prosecutor’s office would not answer questions about why Depp was not charged, citing the ongoing nature of the case. The Department of Agriculture, which conducted the investigation, also declined to comment, saying the decision on charges was up to prosecutors. |
| Even if convicted, Potts doubts Heard will be facing a lengthy jail term. “The seriousness of the offence is not whether two little puppies – who look like they could give you a nasty nip on the ankle – are dreadful animals, it’s about the risk to biosecurity,” he said. | Even if convicted, Potts doubts Heard will be facing a lengthy jail term. “The seriousness of the offence is not whether two little puppies – who look like they could give you a nasty nip on the ankle – are dreadful animals, it’s about the risk to biosecurity,” he said. |
| “Barnaby Joyce, the minister, told them in colourful language to bugger off – they did. Was there a risk? Potentially, but not actually. And I’m sure the court will take all of those things into account.” | “Barnaby Joyce, the minister, told them in colourful language to bugger off – they did. Was there a risk? Potentially, but not actually. And I’m sure the court will take all of those things into account.” |
| In an interview last month, Heard said she and Depp planned to avoid Australia as much as possible in the future “thanks to certain politicians there”. | In an interview last month, Heard said she and Depp planned to avoid Australia as much as possible in the future “thanks to certain politicians there”. |
| “I guess everyone tries to go for their 15 minutes, including some government officials,” the 29-year-old actor told Australia’s Channel 7. | “I guess everyone tries to go for their 15 minutes, including some government officials,” the 29-year-old actor told Australia’s Channel 7. |
| A representative for Depp did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. | A representative for Depp did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. |