Depp's legal professionals regarded to counter proof displaying Heard with seen accidents after incidents of alleged abuse.
Legal professionals for Johnny Depp aimed on Monday to undercut Amber Heard’s credibility, putting front-and-center of their opening salvo on cross-examination an audio recording of Heard saying that individuals would by no means imagine that she was the abuser of their relationship.
The testimony got here after Heard wrapped up her case, detailing over a number of days on the stand violent altercations wherein she says she was overwhelmed and raped by a belligerent Depp. Heard has testified that her ex-husband coordinated a marketing campaign to smear her as soon as she publicly alleged that he abused her.
Requested concerning the recording of herself encouraging Depp to “inform the world” and “see what a jury and choose thinks” of his declare that she abused him, Heard responded she was in disbelief that Depp would make such a “preposterous” place within the defamation trial.
“Or, such as you mentioned, who’s going to imagine Johnny Depp, a person, is a sufferer of home violence?” questioned Camille Vasquez, representing Depp.
Heard replied, “With all due respect, I wasn’t saying it as a result of he’s a person however as a result of he’s a person who beat me up for 5 years.”
The central query of the trial in Virginia state court docket is whether or not Heard defamed her ex-husband in an op-ed printed in The Washington Put up that didn’t title Depp however correlated with their time collectively. She described herself within the column as a “public determine representing home abuse.” Depp sued for $50 million over the piece, alleging that he’s being boycotted by Hollywood over what he’s known as a hoax orchestrated by his ex-wife, who countersued for $100 million.
The trial has hardly ever touched on specifics of the disputed op-ed, primarily exploring intimate particulars of the previous couple’s relationship by clashing accounts of bodily altercations and Depp’s drug use. Heard has introduced quite a few images she took of herself after fights with Depp documenting situations of abuse.
After Heard wrapped up her direct testimony Monday, Depp’s legal professionals challenged why images of Heard after alleged situations of abuse don’t present any seen accidents. The questions revolved round altercations in March 2013, when Heard mentioned Depp hit her with a fist stuffed with rings, and in Might 2014, when Heard mentioned that Depp had damaged her nostril.
Vasquez confirmed the jury a photograph taken the night time after Heard mentioned she broke her nostril, questioning why it didn’t appear like she was injured. “That’s why I’m carrying make-up,” Heard responded.
After Vasquez requested whether or not she’s displayed images of the damage with out make-up, Heard mentioned, “I’d very very like to,” which prompted Depp’s legal professionals to object.
Heard’s testimony has been repeatedly reduce quick by objections from Depp’s crew. The choose known as for personal speak with legal professionals on either side after Heard continued to reference proof that wasn’t allowed into the trial.
In one other contentious change, Heard was questioned on whether or not she adopted by on her pledge to donate the whole lot of her $7 million divorce settlement with Depp to the American Civil Liberties Union and Kids’s Hospital Los Angeles.
“I exploit pledge and donation synonymously with each other,” Heard replied. “They're the identical factor.”
After Vasquez requested the query once more, the actress mentioned, “That’s how donations are paid.”
Heard has maintained all through the trial that the donation was anticipated to paid over a 10-year interval however that she needed to cease paying because of litigation prices. The ACLU has corroborated Heard’s testimony.
Earlier than cross-examination, Heard continued to current her case that Depp defamed her by calling her accusations a hoax. She was requested a couple of assertion from Adam Waldman, one in every of Depp’s legal professionals who was thrown off the case after leaking to the press data lined by a protecting order, claiming she “set Mr. Depp up by calling the cops.” The declare considerations a go to from legislation enforcement to the couple’s home wherein Heard refused to press expenses towards Depp for home violence.
“This couldn’t be extra false,” Heard mentioned of Waldman’s assertion. “If I wished a hoax, why wouldn’t I cooperate with the police? Wouldn’t I say one thing to the police? Wouldn’t I do extra harm to the home than simply knock over belongings you noticed footage of? It is not sensible.”
Heard additionally testified that she was virtually dropped from Aquaman 2 after Depp began denying the abuse allegations. She mentioned motion sequences that includes her character have been reduce.
In line with Heard, she agreed to a three-picture possibility for her character in Aquaman. She was paid $2 million to reprise her position in Aquaman 2, which was the final film beneath her contract.
Trial will proceed with cross-examination of Heard on Tuesday.