The world watched with bated breath as Hollywood heavyweights, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, battled it out in a Virginia courtroom. This high-profile defamation trial, stemming from Heard’s 2018 Washington Post op-ed, captivated audiences globally, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives. Let’s take a closer look at the key moments and testimonies that shaped this sensational trial.
Amber Heard Takes the Stand: A Timeline of Alleged Abuse
Heard’s testimony painted a picture of a tumultuous relationship marred by Depp’s alleged substance abuse and volatile behavior. She claimed the abuse began in 2012, earlier than initially stated, and escalated over time.
“It started with a slap,” Heard recounted, her voice shaking. “Then it was pushing, shoving… he’d break things, yell at me… It became a pattern.”
The Infamous Audio Recordings and the Feces Incident
The trial took a shocking turn with the introduction of audio recordings where Heard admitted to hitting Depp.
“I was hitting you, I don’t know what the motion of my actual hand was, but you’re fine,” Heard could be heard saying.
Adding to the drama was the infamous “feces incident,” where Depp claimed Heard or one of her friends defecated in his bed after an argument. Heard vehemently denied the accusation, placing the blame squarely on Depp’s Yorkshire Terrier, Boo.
“Boo had bowel control issues,” she explained, “She liked to burrow in the bed.”
This explanation contradicted the testimony of Depp’s former bodyguard, Starling Jenkins, who claimed Heard admitted to the act being a “practical joke gone wrong.”
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in court
May 21, 2016: A Critical Date in the Depp-Heard Saga
The night of May 21, 2016, emerged as a pivotal point in the trial. It was then that Heard alleged Depp physically assaulted her, hitting her with his iPhone during a heated argument.
“He just pulled his arm back with the phone and throws it at my face,” Heard testified, “It hit me right in… it felt like my eye.”
Depp vehemently denied the accusation, claiming Heard orchestrated the entire incident. Adding weight to his claim was a recording played by Depp’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, where Heard could be heard admitting to instigating the fight and Depp stating, “You will not see my eyes again.”
The Severed Finger: Conflicting Accounts and the Aftermath
One of the most harrowing incidents recounted during the trial was the severing of Depp’s finger in Australia in 2015. Depp alleged Heard, enraged during an argument, threw two vodka bottles at him, one of which severed the tip of his finger.
Heard, however, presented a different account, claiming Depp injured himself while smashing a phone. Audio recordings played during the trial only served to deepen the mystery surrounding the incident.
The ACLU Donation: Truth or Fabrication?
Heard’s pledge to donate her entire $7 million divorce settlement to charity became a point of contention during the trial. While she initially claimed to have donated the entire sum, cross-examination revealed she had not yet fulfilled this promise.
“I pledged the entirety of the settlement, $7 million, to charity and I intend to fulfill those obligations,” Heard insisted.
Vasquez, however, argued that Heard had not yet made the donations, implying Heard’s initial statement was misleading.
Witnesses for the Defense: A Chorus of Conflicting Testimonies
The trial also witnessed a parade of witnesses called to testify on behalf of both Depp and Heard. Some corroborated aspects of their narratives, while others offered conflicting accounts, adding layers of complexity to an already intricate case.
Heard’s sister, Whitney Henriquez, testified that Depp became increasingly controlling and abusive towards Heard as their relationship progressed. However, Henriquez’s credibility was called into question when Depp’s legal team presented a statement from her friend, Jennifer Howell, alleging Henriquez had previously admitted to trying to stop Heard from hitting Depp.
Other witnesses, including Depp’s former business manager, Joel Mandel, and talent agent, Tracey Jacobs, painted a picture of an actor struggling with substance abuse and a penchant for extravagant spending.
A Trial for the History Books: Verdict and Beyond
The Depp-Heard defamation trial was undoubtedly one of the most widely followed and analyzed legal battles in recent memory. The jury ultimately sided with Depp, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, while awarding Heard $2 million in compensatory damages for her counterclaim.
The trial left many questions unanswered, but one thing is certain: this very public battle has irrevocably changed the personal and professional lives of both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.