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

Johnny Depp testified this week in his defamation case towards 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 stunning 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 had 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 known as Heard issues like “nugatory hooker” and “c***,” and mentioned he desires to “f*** her burnt corpse.”

The trial is predicted to final a number of extra weeks. Whereas Heard has but to testify, authorized specialists consider Depp, thus far, 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 towards 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 companion of Walzer Melcher, tells Yahoo Leisure. (Heard maintains it was Depp who lower 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 Put up. He isn’t suing her for assault.

“Johnny must show that she made a false assertion about him within the Washington Put up piece. He didn’t do a great job mentioning particular statements within the article that he believes are false,” Melcher continues. “Amber didn’t straight 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 mild however that will not be sufficient to rely as defamation.”

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

“The case towards 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 status 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 troublesome scenario 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 troublesome, 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 definitely is not serving to… She’s not popping out trying like an angel and let’s face it, girls are judged harsher in Hollywood.”

“Johnny’s status as a bad-boy and partier really helps him. His drug use is extensively recognized so it isn’t like his testimony took anybody without warning. What could not have been as extensively recognized is the abusive childhood and surroundings Johnny grew up in. This allowed him to be portrayed as a sufferer and endear himself to the general public and perhaps even to the jury,” Lewis provides. “However we have a protracted method to go. Amber hasn’t informed her facet of the story and, let’s have in mind, each of them are actors and you’ll 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 occasions, 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 will likely be as much as the jury to determine.

Melcher believes Depp did nicely 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 incredible job explaining how he suffered abuse as a baby by his mom and that he withdrew and began utilizing medication at a younger age in consequence. It was heart-wrenching to listen to how poorly he was handled by his mother and father and the way that led him to self-medicate with medication at an early age as a result of he had no different means of coping. This was very important testimony to point out that Johnny used medication to numb his ache, slightly than to celebration,” 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 great sympathy for Johnny, however in the end they’re anticipated to observe the legislation 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 troublesome hurdle to climb than when suing somebody who is just not a public determine. Depp should show that Heard knew her statements had been false when she made them,” says Lewis.

Depp’s profession may get a lifeline, although.

“This can be a lose-lose scenario for each however I believe Johnny comes out trying higher and social media feedback form of mirror that,” he provides. “Additionally, bear 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 habits and breaking into somebody’s residence? He has absolutely overcome that section of his life and Depp may do the identical, particularly with a win right here.”

MORE: Johnny Depp’s texts about desirous to ‘f***’ Amber Heard’s ‘burnt corpse’ learn at trial