15 Dec 2015

Court date for Johnny Depp's wife over dogs

4:38 pm on 15 December 2015

The wife of Hollywood actor Johnny Depp will face a hearing on the Gold Coast next year on charges of illegally importing the couple's pet dogs into Australia.

Actors Johnny Depp (L) and Amber Heard attend the Los Angeles Premiere of "The Danish Girl", in Westwood, California, on November 21, 2015.

Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard Photo: AFP

Amber Heard is facing two charges of illegal importation of an animal and one count of producing a false document.

The actress allegedly smuggled the couple's Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo into Australia on a private jet in May.

Depp was filming the latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise on the Gold Coast when authorities sniffed out the potential quarantine breach.

A photo of the two dogs was shared on social media by a Gold Coast dog grooming salon, almost three weeks after they arrived in the country.

Heard will be required to appear at a four-day summary hearing in April.

Penalties include fines of up to $100,000 or up to 10 years imprisonment.

Twelve witnesses will give evidence but it was not known whether Depp was on the witness list.

- ABC

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs