The trial in the case of Johnny Depp v News Group Newspapers in the High Court in London before Nicol J continued on Wednesday 15 July (Day 7) and Thursday 16 July (Day 8).

The Court continued to hear evidence from witnesses called in support of Mr Depp’s case.

On Tuesday morning the Court heard first from Ben King who worked for Mr Depp as a house manager in 2014 and 2015.  He said that he frequently witnessed Ms Heard goading Mr Depp but never witnessed Mr Depp being violent or unkind.  His first witness statement is here and his second is here.  The next witness was Kevin Murphy  who had worked for Mr Depp for 8 years until 2016 as an estate manager.  His witness statements are here and here.

The Court then heard from Kate James who worked as a personal assistant to Amber Heard from 2012 to 2015.  She said she never saw physical violence from  either Ms Heard or Mr Depp and never saw injuries to Ms Heard.  She claimed that Ms Heard had “stolen” her own sexual violence conversations and twisted it to her own benefit.  Her witness statements are here and here.

The transcript of the evidence given on Day 7 is here.

On Thursday 16 July 2020 the Court first heard evidence from from Sean Bett who has, for the past 9 years, worked in private security for Mr Depp.  He said that throughout their relationship Ms Heard was verbally and physically abusive to Mr Depp, often when she had been drinking.  His witness statement is here.

The Judge ruled that witness statements of Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis should be made available to the press, even though they had not been called, to give evidence, because they had been quoted in opening submissions.  The statements are summarised by Sky News.

The next witness was Starling Jenkins, who has worked for Mr Depp, providing security since 1993.  He said that he had never seen Mr Depp use force on Ms Heard and had seen no marks, bruises or injuries on her. He said that he saw no marks or bruises on 22 April 2016, the day after Ms Heard alleged that Mr Depp had committed an act of domestic violence. Mr Jenkins’ witness statement is here.

No other witnesses were available and the case was adjourned to Friday 17 July 2020.

The transcript of the evidence given on Day 8 is here.

Sky News has a piece entitled Johnny Depp v The Sun: Here’s who’s who in the High Court libel trial

The witness statements and transcripts are available on Nick Wallis’ website.