Amber Heard testified for the first time in her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s defamation trial yesterday. A first statement on his own behalf in the third week of negotiations.
Dressed business-like in a black pantsuit, she told her version of the tragically toxic relationship, which may have erupted in violence long before her marriage. Heard fought back tears in the first few minutes of the approximately two-hour questioning.
Her memories date back to 2011 when the couple met on the set of The Rum Diary. Heard was celebrating her 23rd birthday at the time. After Depp’s pathetic declarations of love while filming in Costa Rica, there were various follow-up meetings: “It felt intense,” says Heard.
At that time, Depp was “officially” still in a relationship with his French wife Vanessa Paradis. Which would have led to jet-set hide-and-seek in exotic locations. Up to this point, Heard felt like he was in a dream, in his own words.
From 2012, Depp then went into a negative spiral. He continued to shower her with “love” – only to fall into malicious criticism and jealousy a little later.
“Why should I, of all people, the coke despiser… why should I hide HIS drugs?”
In May 2013, the first escalation would have occurred during a stay in a caravan in the Californian desert. Depp accused an unspecified woman of flirting with Heard – and threatened to break his hand.
Back in the trailer, a maniacal Johnny Depp wanted to know where “it” was hidden. US media such as “Deadline” quote from the negotiation stream: “He said he was looking for his substance, for HIS coke. Why should I of all people, the coke despiser… why should I hide HIS drugs?” During the violent search operation, he also “put his fingers in me”. Heard was paralyzed – and unable to react: “I didn’t say ‘stop’ or anything.”
In the period that followed, in a bipolar interplay, Depp would have made excessive gestures of apology, with gifts and oaths of eternal love. Followed by outbursts of physical violence.
In February 2015, the two then celebrated their wedding with a big party in the Bahamas, until the extreme relationship finally broke up 15 months later. Heard’s psychologist Dawn Hughes had previously spoken of post-traumatic stress disorder in another expertise. This, too, would have made it impossible for her patient to draw a line after the first excesses.
Under cross-examination, she admitted that Heard had also freaked out about Depp. These would be disproportionate to Depp’s actions. Heard often had to fear for her integrity.
Johnny Depp took his ex-wife’s testimonies like a motionless Buddha. His eyes shielded by dark glasses.
In his testimonies, he admitted under oath that he had had a dispute with Heard, but dismissed any use of force: “I never got to the point of hitting Ms. Heard. I’ve never hit a woman before in my life.” Rather, it would have been Heard who had a “need for violence.”
US court reporters are now assuming that Heard will be questioned over several days, including cross-examination by Depp’s lawyers. It is not yet clear whether Heard’s team will present further witnesses or film/audio documents. So-called “trial tactics” will also have an impact on finding the truth in this “statement-versus-statement” constellation…
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