Depp v Heard: Amber Heard cross-examined about fights, sexual assault

By Matthew Barakat of AP

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17 May, 2022 05:56 PM3 mins to read

Amber Heard testifies at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. Photo / Brendan Smialowski, Pool via AP

Lawyers for Johnny Depp have questioned the truthfulness of Amber Heard's accusation that Depp sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle.

Heard was cross-examined after her testimony in Depp's libel suit against her.

Depp is suing Heard in Virginia's Fairfax County Circuit Court over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in the Washington Post describing herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse". His lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name. The trial is now in its fifth week.

Depp's lawyer, Camille Vasquez, questioned Heard about a variety of incidents in which she says she was assaulted by Depp.

Johnny Depp gestures as he walks out of the courtroom during a break at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. Photo / Brendan Smialowski, Pool via AP

The questioning was particularly intense over a March 2015 fight the couple had in Australia, shortly after they were married, while Depp was shooting a fifth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

It was during that fight that Heard says she was sexually assaulted. Depp, on the other hand, says he was the victim, and that he lost the tip of his middle finger when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him.

Vasquez questioned why Heard never sought medical attention, even though she said her feet were cut by broken glass and she was bleeding after the attack.

"You're the one who assaulted someone with a bottle in Australia, isn't that right, Ms Heard?" Vasquez asked.

Attorney Camille Vasquez speaks with Johnny Depp in the courtroom. Photo / Michael Reynolds, Pool via AP

"I didn't assault Johnny in Australia. I didn't assault Johnny ever," Heard responded.

Vasquez then questioned why Heard wrote a series of love notes to Depp in the months after she said she was assaulted.

Heard has said she believed Depp had hit rock bottom after the Australia fight and was committed to sobriety. She has said most of the assaults occurred while Depp was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"When things were good, they were really good."

There was also testimony about Heard's $100 million counterclaim against Depp. She says she was defamed by Depp's lawyer, Adam Waldman, when he called Heard's accusations a hoax.

Heard has said the accusations hurt her career, but Vasquez pointed to a series of negative articles about Heard that preceded Waldman's comments.

The jury also heard an audio recording of a verbal fight between the two in which each belittled the other's acting career. Heard laughed mockingly at Depp's career-making role in the '80s television show 21 Jump Street.

"Hey, at least I didn't do, like, a teeny show where I'm a heartthrob. God that would be, like, embarrassing," Heard said.

Depp responded with dismissive commentary about Heard's biggest film role to date, shouting "Aquaman!" in a mocking way to denigrate the superhero film.