In the ongoing defamation trial of actor Johnny Depp, a psychologist and a police officer took the witness stand on Tuesday.
In the Fairfax County Court of Virginia, forensic psychologist Shannon Curry testified that she diagnosed Heard with borderline personality disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder found.
Curry had been hired by Depp’s attorneys to prepare an expert opinion on Heard. Among other things, she checked health records and audio recordings and met the actress twice for tests. In her estimation, Heard tends towards emotional instability and sudden outbursts of anger, which could also be accompanied by violence.
Depp has sued Heard, to whom he was married from 2015 to 2017, for $50 million in damages. The reason is an article by Heard for the newspaper “Washington Post” from the end of 2018, in which the 35-year-old described herself as a victim of domestic violence.
Counterclaim by Heard
The actress did not name her ex-husband. However, Depp argues that he is implicitly accused of domestic violence, especially since Heard had publicly accused him of a physical assault in 2016. Heard, known from films like “Aquaman” and “The Danish Girl”, has responded with a counterclaim. She is demanding $100 million in damages from Depp and accusing him of “unbridled physical violence.”
Depp denies ever physically abusing Heard. He also denies allegations by Heard’s lawyers that he turned into a violent “monster” under the influence of alcohol and drugs. “If anyone at any point in my life has had a problem with my drinking, it’s me,” the actor said. “The only person I have abused in my life is myself.”
Depp’s lawyers hope the psychologist’s testimony will support the actor’s claim, who described himself as a victim in the explosive relationship. Heard On the witness stand, Depp declared under oath that he never hit Heard.
“Shut up, fat ass”
Cell phone messages read out in the process, in which he taunted Heard and presumably longed for her death, Depp tried to downplay in court. “It’s just irreverent and abstract humor,” the actor said. He is ashamed that his words are now being spread around the world.
“Shut up, fat ass,” the Pirates of the Caribbean star told Heard in one of the recordings played to a jury in Fairfax on Monday. In another recording, Heard accuses her ex-husband of “beaten her to the hospital.”
Policewoman saw no signs of violence
The testimony of a policewoman in a previously recorded video link was also shown in the courtroom on Tuesday. Melissa Saenz described being called to the couple’s Los Angeles penthouse in May 2016 after the couple had an argument. She found Heard crying but found no signs of injury or damage to property in the home. Saenz testified that she did not see Heard as a victim of domestic violence.
Johnny Depp completed his four-day testimony on Monday. Heard is also said to testify in the process, which will last several weeks. (AFP/dpa)