Experts weigh in on Johnny Depp’s testimony against Amber Heard

Johnny Depp testified this week in his defamation case in opposition to Amber Heard, accusing the actress of emotional and bodily abuse throughout their four-year relationship. It has been wild, to say the least.

In a single surprising second, the Aquaman star, who has but to take the stand, berated and admitted to “hitting” Depp in an audio recording performed to the court docket. Pictures have been proven of accidents Depp purportedly sustained after violent fights. However there have been a number of uncomfortable moments for the Pirates of the Caribbean star, too. Throughout cross-examination, Depp was confronted with aggressive secret recordings taken by Heard. The jury additionally heard lots of the actor’s specific textual content messages, the place he referred to as Heard issues like “nugatory hooker” and “c***,” and mentioned he needs to “f*** her burnt corpse.”

The trial is predicted to final a number of extra weeks. Whereas Heard has but to testify, authorized consultants consider Depp, to this point, is “successful within the court docket of public opinion.”

“Johnny has demonstrated that Amber was the dominant aggressor within the relationship which included acts of bodily violence in opposition to him. He described how she threw a bottle of vodka at him which severed the tip of his finger, that she snubbed out a lit cigarette on his face and punched him within the face. He confirmed images of those accidents,” household legal professional Chris Melcher, a associate of Walzer Melcher, tells Yahoo Leisure. (Heard maintains it was Depp who minimize off the tip of his finger.) “However the case is just not about whether or not Amber hit Johnny.”

Depp is suing Heard for defamation for describing herself as a “public determine representing home abuse” in a 2018 op-ed for the Washington Publish. He’s not suing her for assault.

“Johnny must show that she made a false assertion about him within the Washington Publish piece. He didn’t do a great job declaring particular statements within the article that he believes are false,” Melcher continues. “Amber didn’t immediately say within the article that Johnny hit her. She portrayed herself as a sufferer of home violence and claimed that she confronted backlash when she spoke up about it. Amber positioned herself in a false gentle however that will not be sufficient to depend as defamation.”

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Depp misplaced an analogous libel case within the U.Ok. in 2020, when a choose dominated it was “considerably true” the actor abused Heard, subsequently it was truthful for The Solar to consult with him as a “spouse beater.” The three-week trial was equally as explosive, however Melcher notes there’s a key distinction.

“The case in opposition to The Solar didn’t contain Amber as a celebration, she was a witness solely, so he was unable to enter depth as to her conduct at that trial as he is ready to do now. Johnny defined that he misplaced his fame instantly as a result of Amber’s accusations created a firestorm of media consideration, and that he was suggested by his counsel on the time to not struggle again,” Melcher says. “It’s a tough state of affairs for any public determine to take care of accusations like that, with their counsel advising them to stay silent whereas the accusations flow into within the media. Six years later, he’s lastly talking out in a courtroom with proof and demonstrating that these allegations are false.”

Melcher provides, “Johnny is successful within the court docket of public opinion, even when he loses within the court docket of Virginia. He should know the probabilities of successful the defamation case is tough, and might be utilizing this case as a discussion board to show what Amber did to him. That is the primary alternative he has needed to put Amber on trial.”

Defamation lawyer Jeff Lewis agrees, telling Yahoo Leisure, “For Amber, this trial actually is not serving to… She’s not popping out trying like an angel and let’s face it, ladies are judged harsher in Hollywood.”

“Johnny’s fame as a bad-boy and partier truly helps him. His drug use is broadly identified so it is not like his testimony took anybody abruptly. What might not have been as broadly identified is the abusive childhood and atmosphere Johnny grew up in. This allowed him to be portrayed as a sufferer and endear himself to the general public and possibly even to the jury,” Lewis provides. “However we have got a protracted solution to go. Amber hasn’t instructed her aspect of the story and, let’s consider, each of them are actors and you’d count on them to star of their present function of witness.”

A supply near Heard disagrees with how Depp got here a cross on the stand, telling Yahoo Leisure the actor contradicted himself a number of instances, particularly when it got here to his substance abuse points. The insider emphasizes that the actor has to show by preponderance of the proof that he did not abuse Heard within the defamation case and does not consider the case was made. That shall be as much as the jury to resolve.

Melcher believes Depp did effectively throughout cross-examination compared to his first day testifying and appeared “extra comfy.” He additionally factors out the actor’s testimony about his childhood.

“Johnny did an important job explaining how he suffered abuse as a baby by his mom and that he withdrew and began utilizing medication at a younger age consequently. It was heart-wrenching to listen to how poorly he was handled by his dad and mom and the way that led him to self-medicate with medication at an early age as a result of he had no different method of coping. This was very important testimony to indicate that Johnny used medication to numb his ache, reasonably than to occasion,” Melcher says. “It additionally demonstrated that Johnny withdraws from battle as a result of that’s what he realized as a baby. The jury should have large sympathy for Johnny, however in the end they’re anticipated to comply with the regulation in making their determination.”

As for the defamation case at hand, Depp has an uphill battle.

“He has to show precise malice to win a defamation lawsuit. That is a way more tough hurdle to climb than when suing somebody who is just not a public determine. Depp should show that Heard knew her statements have been false when she made them,” says Lewis.

Depp’s profession may get a lifeline, although.

“It is a lose-lose state of affairs for each however I believe Johnny comes out trying higher and social media feedback form of mirror that,” he provides. “Additionally, keep in mind Hollywood has a brief reminiscence. Keep in mind when Robert Downey Jr.’s profession was within the tank after his substance abuse, weird conduct and breaking into somebody’s residence? He has absolutely overcome that part of his life and Depp may do the identical, particularly with a win right here.”

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