Amber Heard cross-examination begins in defamation trial: ‘I might by no means damage Johnny’ – Nationwide

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Courtroom proceedings within the defamation trial that has pitted Amber Heard towards her ex-husband Johnny Depp resumed Monday after a week-long break.

The previous spouses have been final seen within the courtroom on Could 5, when Heard detailed for the court docket a number of cases of alleged assault by the hands of Depp.

Heard’s testimony continued Monday as she returned to the stand, recalling what she believed to be the primary act of alleged bodily violence Depp dedicated towards her.

She stated the violence first befell in early 2012, altering her earlier testimony that the violence occurred in 2013.

Heard alleged Depp hit her for the primary time when she requested about his “Wino Eternally” tattoo — ink tailored from a former tattoo that referenced Depp’s ex-girlfriend, Winona Ryder.

Heard’s authorized workforce submitted a number of photographs of Heard at numerous crimson carpet occasions. Within the photographs, Heard is seen with “scars” on her arms. She claimed the scars have been from an alleged assault in Australia the place she stated Depp held her towards a glass-covered countertop and sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle.

Depp claims Heard severed the tip of his finger on this journey. He testified earlier within the trial this occurred when she threw a glass bottle at his hand.

Heard testified Depp has a historical past of self-harm, and would commonly press knives into his pores and skin, inflicting him to bleed superficially.

Heard additionally testified a few broadly talked-about incident when Depp alleged she defecated on his facet of their mattress whereas they have been married. She vehemently denied the act, claiming it’s “disgusting” and that she “was not in a pranking temper” as a result of “my life was falling aside.”

Heard later testified she met with Depp in 2016 following a month of separation. She stated it was shortly after Depp’s mom died.

Depp was nonetheless fixated on the alleged defecation, stated Heard, insisting she or one among her mates had completed it as a prank.

After what Heard claimed was a heated cellphone name between the ex-spouses and a good friend of Heard, she advised the court docket Depp threw a cellphone at her face.

She testified the combat escalated earlier than one other one among her mates tried to deescalate the state of affairs. The good friend put her palms on Depp’s chest and insisted he settle down.

Heard continued to testify that Depp remained violent, destroying property within the condominium.

She testified that about an hour after the combat, police have been known as to the residence.

Heard stated her good friend took a number of photographs of her face — a few of which have beforehand been proven in court docket — to doubtlessly current to the police. Within the photographs, Heard’s cheekbone seems visibly crimson from the place she claims the thrown cellphone hit her.

Heard testified that she determined to not report the incident to the police, saying that she wished to “defend” Depp. With a sigh, Heard stated she “didn’t need the world to know.”

When requested why she filed for divorce, Heard advised her lawyer, “I knew if I didn’t I’d possible not actually survive. I used to be so scared that it was going to finish actually badly for me.”

“I actually didn’t wish to depart him, I liked him a lot,” she stated. “I couldn’t keep. I consider he would’ve taken it too far and I wouldn’t be right here.”

“The violence was regular and never the exception,” Heard testified.

She stated she obtained a brief restraining order (TRO) when she filed for divorce as a result of “I simply wished to vary my locks.”

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“The particular person I used to be petrified of was the particular person I used to be additionally in love with.”

Heard additionally advised the court docket that every part she’s testified thus far “has been the reality.”

She pointed to quite a few photographs, textual content messages and different correspondence admitted in court docket, saying that it could be “loopy” to make issues up for years.

“I didn’t need this. I don’t wish to be right here,” she advised the jury. Heard testified she by no means wished the details about their relationship to be made public.  “I used to be begging him to not make me show it.”

“I didn’t wish to damage him. I liked him a lot,” she stated, including that’s the reason she didn’t file a legal cost towards Depp.

Heard appeared to combat again tears on the stand, telling jurors she by no means wished to be known as a liar.

Heard testified that after their divorce, Depp’s “smear marketing campaign” directed large press consideration in direction of her and her household, casting doubt on her claims and total character.

“All I’ve is my title. All I’ve is my integrity, and that’s what he tried to take from me,” she stated. She added that, within the divorce, she was “not curious about Johnny’s cash.”

Heard’s attorneys then moved on to the counterclaim she has filed towards Depp, wherein she is asking for $100 million for claims made within the press by Depp’s lawyer, Adam Waldman.

The court docket was proven three separate on-line information articles, printed within the U.Ok.’s Every day Mail in 2020, wherein Waldman known as Heard’s accusations of abuse towards Depp “a hoax” and “pretend.”

“I’ve mountains of proof, mountains of proof,” she stated, including that at that time she was nonetheless making an attempt to guard Depp and maintain the main points of the alleged abuse personal.

Requested to explain the emotional affect of Waldman’s statements, Heard stated she is pressured to relive the ache day by day and that her performing and modelling provides have dried up.

She stated after the articles have been printed, she was successfully erased from a L’Oreal magnificence marketing campaign she had been engaged on, was dropped from the tv sequence The Stand and her position within the Aquaman franchise was considerably diminished.

Breaking down in tears, she advised the court docket, “I simply wished him (Depp) to depart me alone. I simply wish to transfer on with my life, and he received’t let me.”

Cross-examination

Following a brief break, Depp’s attorneys launched into their cross-examination.

They started by asking Heard why Depp has refused to make eye contact together with her all through the trial.

“He promised that you’d by no means see his eyes once more, didn’t he, Ms. Heard?” lawyer Camille Vasquez requested, referencing a promise Depp had made to Heard throughout one among their final conferences after their separation.

Vasquez additionally requested Heard repeatedly in regards to the rings Depp is understood to put on on every finger, pointing to a number of photographs and movies of Heard’s face and physique, taken at crimson carpet and tv appearances, the place giant ring-like marks weren’t seen, regardless of Heard’s allegations that she had been bodily abused by Depp throughout these occasions.

Vasquez known as into query a number of altercations between the couple, asking why Heard didn’t present picture or medical proof to the jury of these alleged cases of violence.

Heard additionally advised the court docket she didn’t search medical remedy after the Australia incident, when Depp allegedly raped her with a liquor bottle.

Heard denied leaking photographs of her alleged accidents, which made their method to the duvet of Folks Journal in 2016. She additionally stated she was not the one who leaked the images, together with a video of Depp smashing cupboards in a drunken rage. the day earlier than the deposition in her divorce settlement.

Earlier than the conclusion of Monday’s proceedings, Heard was pressed about what occurred to the $7 million settlement she was awarded in her divorce from Depp.

Heard had publicly promised to separate the proceeds between two charities — the American Civil Liberties Union and a California kids’s hospital.

Heard advised the court docket she hasn’t but fulfilled the donation, put plans to “absolutely honour” her promise.

“I exploit ‘pledge’ and ‘donation’ synonymously,” Heard testified.

“I don’t,” replied Vasquez.

Heard advised the court docket she hasn’t been in a position to parcel out the cash but “as a result of Johnny sued me.”

Earlier within the proceedings, which started on April 12 and can wrap up on Could 27, Depp denied lots of the allegations, insisting that he’s a “Southern gentleman” and that he had not been hooked on alcohol or illicit medication.

This week, the jury will even hear from Heard’s sister, Whitney Henriquez, in addition to actor Ellen Barkin, who was in a quick relationship with Depp through the Nineties.

Depp can also be anticipated to be known as again to the witness stand as a part of Heard’s case.

Within the authorized battle between the 2 stars, each Heard, 36, and Depp, 58, declare to be victims of violence. The preliminary court docket case started when Depp filed a US$50-million defamation lawsuit over a Washington Put up op-ed penned by Heard in late 2018 about home abuse.

Heard didn’t point out Depp by title within the article, however the actor alleges his status and profession have been nonetheless “devastated” in consequence.

Heard is countersuing Depp for $100 million.