Johnny Depp trial – live: Actor grilled by Amber Heard lawyers over ‘monster’
Watch live as Johnny Depp testimony continues in defamation case against Heard
Lawyers representing Amber Heard are cross-examining Johnny Depp following his two days of testimony in the $50m (£38.2m) defamation lawsuit he brought against his ex-wife. The trial is in its second week at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia.
Heard is being sued by Depp for implying he abused her in a 2018 op-ed she wrote. Although she did not name him, his lawyers claim her allegations have made it difficult for the actor to land movie roles, turning him from “Cinderella to Quasimodo” in Hollywood, as the Pirates of the Caribbean actor described it.
The actor recalled a traumatic childhood with an abusive mother and said his relationship with Heard mirrored that, accusing her of “bullying” him.
Depp described incidents including a fight in which his finger was sliced open, human faeces being found on his bed, and Heard’s accusation he had thrown a phone at her in their penthouse, shortly before divorce proceedings began.
Audio played to the court revealed an argument between the couple in which Heard told Depp “you didn’t get punched” and that “I was hitting you”, in a dispute about a violent episode.
The jury is brought back into the courtroom and cross-examination of Depp resumes with questions about his sister Christi’s concerns about his drug use since his youth.
Depp answers that she has been a concerned sister in every way and not just about his drug use.
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 16:38
Depp makes happy hour joke and recalls doing drugs with Marilyn Manson
Johnny Depp got a laugh from the courtroom as he said “every hour is happy hour” and recalled doing drugs with Marilyn Manson, giving him a pill to stop him from talking so much.
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 16:32
Judge Azcarate calls the morning break.
Cross-examination will continue just after 11.30am
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 16:17
More text exchanges are shown demonstrating Depp’s use of marijuana which he says in one he uses “A lot!!!”
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 16:16
A photo showing a tableau of wine, whiskey, and lines of cocaine is shown from when Depp has fallen off the wagon in March of 2013.
Rottenborn asks if he would sometimes drink whiskey during the morning at that time?
Depp responds: “I mean every hour is happy hour.”
Asked about a small box visible in the picture, Depp disputes that it would be used to carry cocaine, but concedes “but it looks like it would fit”.
Evidence from the UK trial has Depp say that was the box was used for.
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 16:04
Questioning moves on from texts to Depp’s use of drugs from an early age to numb himself per his testimony.
He is asked if he ever took drugs with Marilyn Manson, which he confirms.
Asked if he took pills with Manson, Depp said: “I once gave Marilyn Manson a pill so that he would stop talking so much.”
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 15:57
More texts are shown all in which Depp uses the term “monster” to Dr David Kipper, Jerry Judge, and Stephen Deuters.
They include this excerpt between Judge and Depp from 2015.
Judge: “Johnny it is lovely to see how you and Amber are so happy…”
Depp: “Very, very kind mate!! All I had to do was send the monster away and lock him up!!”
In his testimony, Depp said he only uses the term “monster” to placate Heard.
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 15:47
During cross-examination, there is quite a lot of back-and-forth between Rottenborn and Depp as the former tries to keep the latter’s answers short and specific to the question asked.
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 15:44
In various other texts, Depp is shown referring to Heard as: “idiot cow”, “ugly c***”, “worthless hooker”, and “filthy whore”.
These were sent before and after the marriage.
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 15:42
Rottenborn and Depp engage in a discussion on the use of the word “monster”.
Depp previously testified that Heard often referred to Depp as a “monster” when he drank.
Rottenborn says: “But the word [monster] came from you?
Depp responds: “It’s probable that I used that word, certainly,” and recalls Heard also using the word “demons”.
Rottenborn shows a text Depp sent to Elton John, who was trying to get him sobre, saying, “I would have been swallowed up by the monster, were it not for you.”
There is a back-and-forth between Depp and Rottenborn.
Oliver O’Connell21 April 2022 15:40
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