UNITED STATES: Amber Heard told jurors on Thursday that her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s harassment campaign has left her humiliated and afraid for her life due to several death threats, and that all she wants is for “Johnny to leave me alone.”
Heard was the final witness in the six-week libel trial Depp brought against his ex-wife. Millions of people have watched the trial thanks to the cameras in the courtroom, and interest seemed to grow as the weeks passed and both Depp and Heard spoke about the horrific facts of their relationship.
Depp’s admirers have massively dominated the narrative online and at the courthouse, with groupies lining up overnight to get one of the few spots in the courtroom and wave at him as he walks in and out. Spectators on the street have booed Heard as she enters and exits the courthouse.
“The harassment and the humiliation, the campaign against me that’s echoed every single day on social media, and now in front of cameras in the showroom — every single day I have to relive the trauma,” Heard said as she fought back tears.
“Perhaps it’s easy to forget I’m a human being.”
Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez told Heard on cross-examination that “your lies have been exposed to the world” and questioned her about persons who contradicted parts of her story.
“I know how many people will come out of the woodwork to be in support of Johnny,” Heard responded.
In Fairfax County Circuit Court, Depp is suing Heard for libel for an op-ed she published in The Washington Post in December 2018, identifying herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.”
His lawyers claim the story defamed him although his name was never stated.
Heard expressed hope that the lawsuit will help her reclaim her voice and that she has the “right as an American” to write an article about her experiences and how they connect to the public discourse around domestic abuse.
“Johnny has taken enough of my voice,” she said.
“I have the right to tell my story.”
Since she filed for divorce and got a restraining order against Depp, she claims he has been hell-bent on vengeance.
She referenced earlier testimony in which Depp texted Heard’s disgruntled former personal assistant and urged her to “come over for a spot of purple and we’ll fix her flabby a— nice and good!!!”
“Johnny promised me — promised me — that he’d ruin my life, that he’d ruin my career. He’d take my life from me,” Heard said.
Depp has denied ever striking Heard, claiming she was the one who abused him. Heard has testified about more than a dozen different incidents of physical abuse she claims she received from Depp.
Richard Gilbert, a hand surgeon, was the final witness for Depp’s side on Thursday morning, and he said he believes the injury to Depp’s middle finger occurred as Depp portrays it.
During a disagreement in Australia, the couple’s tip of the finger was severed. Heard allegedly tossed a huge vodka bottle at Depp, according to Depp.
Depp allegedly did it to himself in a drug-fueled rage on the same night he sexually attacked her with a liquor bottle, according to Heard.
On Friday, jurors will hear closing arguments.
Also Read: Kate Moss Testifies for Johnny Depp in Defamation Trial
