- 1 hour ago
- From the section Australia
Image copyright Getty Images
Dog smuggling charges against Johnny Depp's wife Amber Heard have been dropped after she admitted lying on her arrival card in Australia last year.
Ms Heard, 29, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to immigration about the couple's Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo.Ms Heard and Hollywood star Mr Depp both attended Southport Magistrate's Court in Queensland state on Monday.
The presiding judge dropped two illegal importation charges against Ms Heard.
These carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail or fines of up to A$265,000 ($195,000, £172,000).
Her guilty plea means Mr Depp will be excused from giving evidence to the court, reports say.
Image copyright Getty Images Their presence in the country was noticed after a local dog groomer posted a photo of Pistol and Boo on social media.
The case was dubbed the "war on terrier" and made international headlines when then-Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the pets should "bugger off back to the US".
Mr Joyce, who is now deputy prime minister, threatened to put the dogs down and said even the "sexiest man alive" needed to adhere to quarantine rules.
The dogs were quickly taken out of the country and Ms Heard vowed never to return to Australia.
Australia's tough quarantine laws are designed to keep disease at bay. Dogs entering from the US must spend 10 days in quarantine.
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