Amber Heard, actress and former wife of Johnny Depp, arrives at the High Court in London, Friday, July 17, 2020. Photo / AP
CCTV footage showing James Franco and Amber Heard having a "discreet" conversation in a lift in her apartment building has been shown in the London High Court.
The video was filmed on May 22, 2016, the day after Heard alleges Johnny Depp threw her mobile phone at her, hitting her in the face, which Depp denies. It was just days before she filed for divorce.
Earlier in the case, the court heard how Depp had accused Heard of having an affair with James Franco and Elon Musk. She denies being unfaithful.
The footage shown in court from the CCTV system of Heard's home in LA shows her entering a lift on May 22, 2016, at 22.56pm wearing a long robe and going down to collect James Franco from reception.
Depp has denied physically abusing Heard, and his lawyers have called witnesses who said they had seen Heard in the days after the alleged assault with no injuries to her face.
Heard maintained she had bruises on her face and that she had been wearing makeup in the days afterwards which had disguised her injuries.
Asked about what time Heard collected Franco from downstairs, Heard confirmed it was after 11pm and said: "In those days, I didn't sleep much at night."
Depp has brought a libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an article which called him a "wife beater". Depp vehemently denies abusing Heard, however she maintains she was attacked by him on a number of occasions in drink- and drug-fuelled rages.
Tuesday morning's evidence centred around the days before Heard filed for divorce.
The court also heard details of text messages between Heard and Depp and Heard and Elon Musk – where the Tesla founder offered to provide her with "24/7 security".
The offer was made in a text exchange between Musk and Heard on May 22, 2016, after Heard told Musk she would take out a restraining order against Depp.
"WTF but you're OK right?" Musk wrote.
"The offer would stand even if you never wanted to see me again ... anyway sorry for being an idiot. The radio silence hurts a lot. It only matters because I really like you."
Laws then referred to evidence given by Alejandro Romero, a concierge at the Eastern Columbia building where Heard lived, who said he saw Musk visiting Heard "when Mr Depp was in Australia".
Heard responded: "He's wrong. I wasn't even in communication with Elon until 2016."
She said the pair were "friends at that moment. We had just become friends."
Heard said in a witness statement provided to the court that she was physically abused by Depp including being punched, slapped, kicked, head-butted and choked.
"He was always antagonised by shows of will, like me standing up after he had knocked me down. Often, especially earlier in the relationship, I wouldn't even block the blows; I would just freeze and disassociate."