The trial in the case of Johnny Depp v News Group Newspapers in the High Court in London before Nicol J continued on Friday 17 July (Day 9), Monday 20 July (Day 10) and Tuesday 21 July (Day 11).

On Day 9 the Court continued to hear evidence from witnesses called in support of Mr Depp’s case.

The first witness was Mr Isaac Baruch, an old friend of Mr Depp’s who lived rent free in the neighbouring penthouse apartment in Los Angeles. He described pictures of Ms Heard with bruises following an alleged incident in which Mr Depp had thrown a phone at her as, ‘phoney baloney pictures in People magazine’.

The Court then heard from Mr Alejandro Romero,  a concierge at the Building where the couple lived, who claimed that Elon Musk was a regular late-night visitor.

The Court also heard brief evidence from Mr Travis McGivern.  It then heard from decorator, Ms Laura Divenere who gave confusing evidence as to Ms Heard’s bruises, or lack of them.  A recording of a conversation between her and Ms Heard was played in court.

The transcript of the evidence given on Day 9 is here.

On Monday 20 July 2020, Day 10 of the trial, the Defendant began calling its evidence.  The first witness was Amber Heard. She has provided seven witness statements for the trial which can be found here: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

In her statements she said that Mr Depp would blame all his abusive actions on a “self-created third person, which he often called ‘the monster’”.  She said some incidents were so severe “that I was afraid he was going to kill me, either intentionally or just by losing control and going too far. He explicitly threatened to kill me many times, especially later in our relationship.”

She said that the violence included “punching, slapping, kicking, head-butting and choking me, as well as throwing me into things, pulling me by my hair and shoving me or pushing me to the ground.”  She claimed that the worst incidents would happen when he was drunk or high on drugs”, she alleged.

Ms Heard was cross-examined by Ms Eleanor Laws QC for Mr Depp.  She admitted that she had “outbursts of anger” at times and that she lost her cool with Mr Depp in their fights and arguments.  She said that when the situation got serious she tried to defend herself.

It was suggested to Ms Heard that she had put on make up to make herself look injured.  She replied “No, I have never done that”.  There were reports, among many other places, in the Guardian and the Press Gazette.

The transcript of the evidence given on Day 10 is here.

Ms Heard’s cross-examination continued on Tuesday 21 July, Day 11.  Ms Heard admitted that she had struck Mr Depp in defence of her sister.  She said that he was about to push her sister down the stairs.  The cross-examination challenged Ms Heard’s account in great detail, suggesting that it was her who had been violent towards Mr Depp, a suggestion which she consistently denied.  There were reports, among many other places, in the Guardian and the Press Gazette.

The transcript of the evidence given on Day 11 is here.

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

The case continues.