Johnny Depp is expected to testify against Amber Heard in Virginia courtroom Tuesday in defamation trial
Johnny Depp is expected to testify on Tuesday in a Virginia courtroom in a US defamation trial where he accused his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, of ruining her career with false allegations of violence during their relationship, according to Reuters gave information.
Depp, 58, alleged that Heard, 35, defamed him about being a victim of domestic abuse in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post in December 2018.
He filed a $50 million lawsuit against Hurd in 2018.
Depp's name was never mentioned in the article, but Depp's attorney, Benjamin Chew, told jurors a week ago that it was clear Heard was referring to her ex-husband.
Hurd's lawyers have contended that his opinion was protected as free speech under the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
Witnesses called by Depp's lawyers include friends of the Pirates of the Caribbean star and a doctor and a nurse who said they treated him for substance abuse.
Witnesses testified that they were aware of the arguments between the couple, but had not witnessed physical abuse on Heard's part by Depp.
“His arguments were a trigger for him emotionally,” Debbie Lloyd, who worked as a nurse for Depp when he was engaged to Heard, said in a March 8 statement played to the jury on Monday. Said in a videotape.
"They'll annoy him, adding tension."
When asked by Depp's lawyer if he knew any arguments between Depp and Heard had turned physical, Lloyd replied, "No."
A state court judge in Fairfax County, Virginia, is overseeing the trial, which is in its second week and is expected to last six weeks.
Less than two years later, Depp lost a defamation suit against The Sun, a British tabloid that dubbed her a "wife beater".
A judge of the London High Court ruled that he repeatedly assaulted Heard and made her fear for her life.
In the US case, both Depp and Heard presented long lists of potential witnesses they could put on the stand.
Hurd's list includes her ex-boyfriend and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, with whom she wrote about Depp. Actor James Franco is also on the list of possible witnesses.
The Washington Post is not a defendant in the case. Depp's lawyers have said he filed the case in Fairfax County, outside the District of Columbia, because the newspaper appeared in a facility there.
The United States is a difficult platform for libel plaintiffs, especially public figures like Depp, who must prove with clear and convincing evidence that Heard intentionally made false claims.
Depp and Heard met while making the 2011 film The Rum Diary and married four years later. Heard accused Depp of domestic abuse after filing for divorce in 2016.
Heard filed his defamation claim against Depp, saying he defamed him by calling him a liar.
Heard's counterclaim will be decided as part of the hearing. According to court papers, Heard is seeking $100 million in damages from Depp. - Reuters