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Jurors of the ongoing trial facing actors and former spouses Amber Heard and Johnny Depp will hear the final testimony on Thursday, a day before each side’s lawyers present their final arguments.
Depp, 58, is suing Heard, 36, for defamation in Fairfax County Circuit Court for an opinion piece he wrote in December 2018 in The Washington Post describing himself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse “.
His lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though he never mentioned his name.
3:42 Johnny Depp says hearing Amber Heard’s testimony was “crazy” Johnny Depp says hearing Amber Heard’s testimony was “crazy”
Depp is seeking $ 50 million in compensation, while Heard is suing his ex-partner for $ 100 million.
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Read more: Amber Heard tells the court about the violence at the hands of Johnny Depp
On Thursday, his lawyers called Heard back to the rostrum to dismiss his counterclaim against Depp. “I am harassed, humiliated and threatened every day,” he said.
“People want to kill me and they tell me every day,” he said, his voice trembling.
“I have to live with the trauma every day,” he stated.
American actress Amber Heard arrives at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia on May 26, 2022. Getty
“That’s horrible,” he said. “Maybe it’s easy to forget that I’m a human being.”
Heard insisted, though, “I would not wish this situation on my worst enemy,” who has used his platform to give a voice to victims of domestic violence.
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“It’s been agonizing, painful and the most humiliating thing I’ve ever had to go through,” he said of the trial. “I just want Johnny to leave me alone.”
“I have a right as an American to talk about what happened to me. To own my story and my truth,” Heard testified.
U.S. actor Amber Heard testifies during Depp’s $ 50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia on May 26, 2022. Getty
After the cross-examination, Depp’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, asked Heard about various elements of his testimony, which implied that Heard had been false in his statements.
Vásquez and Heard often talked about each other, which increased tensions in the room.
Depp’s lawyer presented to the jury two photos of Heard and a friend the day after she filed a temporary restraining order against Depp in 2016.
In the photos, Heard smiles and hugs her friend. The day before, Heard had visited a court to obtain the restraining order with a bruise on his face. Heard said he was wearing makeup to cover the bruise in the new photos.
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After much back-and-forth, Heard concluded his testimony by telling the courtroom again that he never wanted the trial to be public.
The judge gave some instructions to the jury and Heard’s side rested. Closing statements are expected Friday morning.
Read more: Johnny Depp’s agent says Amber Heard’s opinion piece on abuse is “catastrophic”
Earlier in the day, Depp’s lawyers began the proceedings by calling Dr. Richard Gilbert, a hand orthopedic surgeon, at the booth.
Gilbert testified that he believed Depp’s injured finger, a focal point in this trial, was cut by an “acute laceration.”
Dr. Richard Gilbert, an orthopedic surgeon, testified in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia on May 26, 2022. Getty
Depp claims he lost the digit when Heard threw a bottle of vodka in his hand during a discussion in 2015 in Australia.
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Heard says that while he doesn’t know exactly how Depp cut his finger, he didn’t throw anything at his hand. In his testimony, he hypothesized that Depp may have injured himself by brutally smashing a wall-mounted telephone.
Read more: Johnny Depp calls Amber Heard’s accusations crazy while defamation lawsuit continues
Gilbert stated that he believed Depp’s claims about losing his finger were legitimate.
American actor Johhny Depp arrives with celebrity therapist Beechy Colclough (left) at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia on May 26, 2022. Getty
Heard’s lawyers then called Julian Ackert, a forensic computer expert.
Both legal teams questioned Ackert about the legitimacy of the metadata of the photos presented by Heard as evidence in this trial.
Julian Ackert, a computer forensic investigator, testified during the $ 50 million Depp defamation lawsuit against Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 26, 2022. Getty
There were no major revelations from his testimony.
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Read more: TikTok creators target Amber Heard with degrading memes amid Johnny Depp’s trial
Dr. Dawn Hughes, a forensic clinical psychologist, was called back to the rostrum to reject Dr. Shannon Curry’s testimony on Wednesday.
He defended his methodology for his original psychological tests of Heard. He argued that Dr. Curry, who was hired by Depp’s legal team and stated that Heard had several personality disorders, was misinformed.
Dr. Dawn Hughes, a forensic psychologist, testified during the $ 50 million Depp defamation lawsuit against Heard at Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia on May 26, 2022. Getty
When questioned by Depp’s attorney, the interrogation became heated, as Depp’s team questioned Hughes’ ability to properly administer psychological tests. Depp’s lawyers also questioned Hughes’ claim that Heard has PTSD.
Read more: Amber Heard leaves support after tense interrogation by Johnny Depp’s lawyers
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Depp also returned to the rostrum a day earlier Wednesday, telling the court it has been “crazy” to hear Heard’s allegations against him.
3:43 Amber Heard’s lawyers dispute the photo Johnny Depp alleges showing him with a black eye Previous video Next video
“It’s crazy to hear atrocious accusations of violence, sexual violence, that’s what I’ve been blamed for. I don’t think anyone enjoys having to split up and tell the truth. But there are times when it has to be done, because out of control “.
Read more: Johnny Depp’s testimony cryptically contradicts Amber Heard’s key testimony
He described his time in court as “ridiculous, humiliating, painful, savage, unimaginably brutal and cruel”, as well as calling “false” everything said about him.
In this collection of two photos, Amber Heard hears the testimony of her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp, during her defamation lawsuit against her on Wednesday at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia. Evelyn Hockstein / Getty Images
“No human being is perfect, certainly not. But never, in my life, have I committed sexual harassment, physical abuse, all these extravagant and outrageous stories of me committing these things.
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“It’s not easy for any of us, I know. But whatever happens, I got here and told the truth. And I have reluctantly defended what I have been carrying on my back for six years. “
On Wednesday, jurors also heard from Depp’s ex-girlfriend Kate Moss.
1:22 Kate Moss says Johnny Depp “never” pushed her down the stairs Previous video Next video
Moss, a 48-year-old former supermodel who was romantically involved with Depp from 1994 to 1998, told the court of an incident in which she fell down a flight of stairs and was rescued by Depp.
In a very brief testimony, Moss said that she and Depp were in Jamaica during their relationship and that it had rained. She then slipped down the wet stairs of her suite, she said, and Depp ran to help her upstairs, took her to her room, and received medical attention. She flatly denied that Depp pushed her down the stairs and said she never did …