Warner Bros executive says Heard and Momoa had ‘no chemistry’ on Aquaman set
WARNING: This live blog contains allegations of physical and sexual violence that some readers may find distressing.
Amber Heard’s legal team has rested their defence case in the defamation trial brought against her by ex-husband Johnny Depp.
Heard is being sued by Depp for $50m for implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Although she didn’t name him, he claims her allegations impacted his ability to work. She is pursuing a counterclaim of $100m, of which a motion to dismiss was denied by Judge Penney Azcarate.
On Tuesday rebuttal witnesses for Depp gave testimony countering the testimony of expert witnesses put forward in Heard’s defence concerning her alleged loss of earnings and his mental health. A different account of the 2013 Hicksville Trailer Palace incident was also heard by the court.
Supermodel and Depp-ex Kate Moss will testify on Wednesday about her relationship with the actor in the 1990s.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Friday.
Court takes its afternoon recess.
Dr Shaw resumes his rebuttal testimony at 4.17pm.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 21:02
Dr Shaw is asked his opinion of Dr Spiegel’s testimony from yesterday.
He begins by saying he violated the ethical principles in regards to the Goldwater Rule when talking about Depp as a public figure without having interviewed or examined him. The rule prohibits giving a professional opinion in this way. He adds that Dr Spiegel’s opinions are unreliable.
Here’s Dr Spiegel’s testimony:
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 20:41
New Witness: Dr Richard Shaw, forensic psychiatrist
The next witness is Dr Richard Shaw, a forensic psychiatrist. Originally from the UK, he is now a professor of psychiatry at Stamford University.
He is board-certified and has practiced psychiatry since 1985. Approximately three-quarters of his time is working with patients.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 20:32
Depp witness allowed to testify despite calling Heard ‘jealous and crazy’ on Twitter
A witness for Johnny Depp’s rebuttal has been allowed to testify despite having called Amber Heard “jealous and crazy” in a tweet posted during the couple’s defamation trial.
Mr Depp’s team on Tuesday called Morgan Night, who worked at the Hicksville trailer park that Ms Heard, Mr Depp and their friends visited in May 2013. During that trip, Ms Heard alleges Mr Depp trashed their trailer before performing a “cavity search” on her.
Before Mr Night took the stand, Judge Penney Azcarate sent out the jury so he could be questioned about what he’d seen of the trial before he learned he would be a witness.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 20:29
Cross-examination of Mr Night begins.
Elaine Bredehoft accuses him of wanting to be part of the trial and being a big fan of Depp which Mr Night denies to laughter from the court.
She asks him about his response to a tweet about Hicksville from a pro-Depp Twitter account.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 20:14
Asked if Depp was drinking he said he did not see him drink but he appeared to be intoxicated as the night went on and his head would sway back and forth. Mr Night says he was formerly a barkeeper.
He says Heard appeared to have been intoxicated when she was angry at Depp.
Mr Night says he heard a commotion at one point at Heard and Depp’s trailer but everyone went to bed around 3am.
In the morning says the other staff told him there was damage in their trailer. He remembers the light sconce was broken and hanging from the wall, but that was all the damage in the trailer.
He charged Depp’s assistant’s credit card for a replacement pair of sconces when he tracked them down on eBay.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 20:11
Mr Night recalls spending about 45 minutes to an hour in total including a time when Depp spoke for a time with a coworker who sang around the campfire.
He says Heard appeared annoyed with Depp, but otherwise was having a good time with her friends around the campfire.
At one point he recalls talking with Depp about Hicksville before Heard came over and said she wanted to talk to Depp. He says she was upset with him and was yelling at him.
He says Depp was cowering and appeared almost afraid.
Later Depp apologised to him and he observed that the actor had become much quieter and appeared less extrovert than earlier in the night.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 20:03
Explainer: What are the ‘Waldman statements’ at the centre of Heard’s countersuit
Johnny Depp’s bid to dismiss Amber Heard’s countersuit against him was denied on Tuesday as the couple’s defamation trial in his original suit neared its conclusion.
Ms Heard’s $100m countersuit centres around her claim that Mr Depp defamed her in multiple statements to the press via his attorney Adam Waldman after she published the 2018 op-ed at the heart of Mr Depp’s suit.
In those statements, Mr Waldman called Ms Heard’s allegations of domestic abuse a “hoax” and an “ambush” orchestrated by the Aquaman actor and her friends.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 20:00
Mr Night started the Hicksville Trailer Palace in 2009 and owned and operated it until 202 when he sold it due to health issues.
He recalls May 2013 when Depp and Heard came to stay. Mr Night recalls Depp being excited and complimentary and Heard being quiet as he gave them a tour. The couple had booked the whole trailer park.
There were 10-12 people in the Depp-Heard group. He recalls a security guard and Heard’s sister Whitney.
The bar and firepit are central to the property and the group spent most of the time there.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 19:58
New Witness: Morgan Night, former owner of Hicksville Trailer Palace
Mr Night is allowed to testify and is sworn in once the jury returns.
Oliver O’Connell24 May 2022 19:50
