Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard issued a strangely morose apology for not declaring their two Yorkshire terriers when entering Australia last year.
Heard has been spared a conviction over the dog-smuggling saga by an Australian court today. She pleaded guilty to knowingly producing a false or misleading document, while two other charges of illegally importing her dogs were dismissed.
In the video apology (released by the Australian government) a stoned-faced Heard sits alongside Depp to state she is
“truly sorry that Pistol and Boo were not declared. Protecting Australia is important. Australia is a wonderful island with a treasure trove of unique plants, animals and people,. Australia is free of many pests and diseases that are commonplace around the world. That is why Australia has to have such strong biosecurity laws.
Australians are just as unique, both warm and direct. When you disrespect Australian law, they will tell your firmly. Declare everything when you enter Australia.“
The court magistrate gave Heard a one-month good behavior bond sentence, CNN-affiliate 7 News Australia said. If Heard breaks the bond, she will have to pay a fine of 1,000 Australian dollars ($767 OMG!) but the incident will not go on record. According to 7 News, the magistrate took into consideration her need to travel for work, and said while the offense was not trivial, she doesn’t believe Heard thought she was above the law.
The story goes like this; the couple arrived in Australia last April aboard a private jet, with Depp in the country to film (yet ANOTHER) Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
Depp was not charged over the incident but accompanied his wife to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast. They were mobbed by the media although police were on hand to keep things under control.
Heard’s defense team described the Pistol and Boo “saga” as a “tired, terrible mistake.”
The illegal import of animals carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of 102,000 Australian dollars ($75,000); the false document charge has a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a fine of 10,200 Australian dollars ($7,500).
It was somewhat of an international incident last year when Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce threatened to have the dogs put down.
“Mr. Depp needs to take his dogs back to California, or we’re going to have to euthanize them.“
The couple was given a 72-hours to get the dogs out of the country and they quickly returned to California but not before sparking the hashtag #WaronTerrier.
What a stupid incident. These two tiny dogs were going to do what? Introduce Ebola to Australia? Watch.
(via CNN)
