The Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard defamation trial has captivated the world with its dramatic twists and turns. As the trial enters its final week, Depp took the stand in his rebuttal case, offering his side of the story and presenting witnesses to challenge Heard’s claims.
Kate Moss Sets the Record Straight
A pivotal moment occurred when British supermodel Kate Moss, Depp’s former girlfriend, testified via video link from the UK. Heard had previously alluded to a rumor that Depp had pushed Moss down a flight of stairs during their relationship. This opened the door for Depp’s team to call Moss as a witness, and her testimony proved to be crucial.
Moss directly refuted the rumor, stating that Depp never pushed her down any stairs. She recounted an incident in Jamaica where she slipped and fell down stairs due to a rainstorm, and Depp rushed to help her. Her testimony effectively neutralized one of Heard’s key insinuations about Depp’s alleged history of violence towards women.
Expert Testimony and Counter Arguments
The trial also featured testimony from expert witnesses, including forensic psychologist Dr. Shannon Curry, who was hired by Depp’s team. Dr. Curry challenged the claims made by Heard’s expert, Dr. Don Hughes, who had diagnosed Heard with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Curry argued that Heard’s symptoms were inconsistent with PTSD and suggested that she may have feigned them.
Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredehoff, questioned Dr. Curry about the nature of her involvement with Depp, pointing out that she had met with him and his legal team at his home prior to accepting the role of assessing Heard. Dr. Curry defended her actions, stating that she had not discussed the case with Depp directly and that it was standard procedure to meet with the legal team.
Depp Addresses Allegations and Text Messages
Depp himself took the stand to address the allegations levied against him. He denied ever physically or sexually abusing Heard, calling the claims “savage and heinous.” He also disputed Heard’s claim that he had taken a large quantity of MDMA pills during an incident in Australia, stating that such a dose would have been fatal.
During cross-examination, Bredehoff presented text messages sent by Depp to his former agent, Christian Carino, in 2016. In these messages, Depp made derogatory comments about Heard and expressed his desire to see her “hit the wall hard.” Depp acknowledged sending the messages but did not elaborate further on their context.
TMZ Employee Testifies About Heard’s Courthouse Appearance
A surprise witness, Morgan Tremaine, a former employee of the celebrity news website TMZ, offered intriguing testimony. Tremaine revealed that TMZ had received a tip about Heard’s 2016 court appearance to file for a restraining order against Depp. He testified that TMZ had arranged for a photographer to capture Heard leaving the courthouse and displaying her alleged injuries.
Tremaine’s testimony raised questions about the authenticity of Heard’s claims and suggested that she may have orchestrated the courthouse appearance for publicity purposes.
The Trial Continues
As the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial progresses, the jury will have to weigh the conflicting testimonies and evidence presented by both sides. The outcome of this high-profile case remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the trial has exposed the complexities of domestic abuse allegations and the power of public opinion in the age of social media.
