The now-famous Amber Heard opinion column on domestic violence has been prepared for her and the actress wanted to include details of her marriage in exchange for legal advice, the jury was told – as more details about the day Johnny Depp cut his finger .
Jurors in the defamation lawsuit filed by Depp v. Hurd heard testimony from Terence Doherty, chief adviser to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who told the court that an employee had written the first version of the Washington Post article under the name of the actress and that changes have been made to avoid establishing a direct relationship with her ex-husband.
In the report, which was published in December 2018, Depp was not mentioned by name, but he told the court that it was clear about him and that it ruined his career in Hollywood. Although they are the catalyst for this whole case, very little evidence so far relates to the column itself – rather the “soap opera” of the stars’ personal lives, which Hurd’s lawyers predicted would turn into opening day.
Image: Johnny Depp accuses Hurd of defamation in connection with an article in which she claims to have been a victim of domestic violence, despite the fact that his name was not mentioned
Mr Doherty was the first to witness the 11th day of evidence in the case, which included testimony from Depp’s business manager Edward White, his bodyguard Malcolm Connelly and driver and assistant Starling Jenkins III.
Here are some of the key moments from the 11th day of testimony:
• The court was told the details of how Amber Heard’s opinion column was written and who was involved – and how it was scheduled to coincide with the release of her hit film Aquaman for Maximum Publicity. of the $ 7 million she promised to give to ACLU and a children’s hospital will actually go to the organizations • Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk appeared during the donation discussions, with Mr Doherty saying he believed the billionaire had contributed to Hurd’s payments • The jury heard details of Depp’s One-Time Wine Bill of $ 160,000 – although it is now said to be closer to zero • Depp’s security guard told the court he would sometimes see scars on Depp’s face. and not Hurd – and identifies one in the photo • Catch up on what has been said so far in our live report on the process as it happens
The day began with Hurd’s connection to the ACLU, and the court was told she was named the organization’s ambassador at the same time as the Washington Post article.
During his testimony, Mr. Doherty answered questions about the transition between the first draft and the publication of the column.
How was the Washington Post published?
Image: Judge Penny Azkarate presides over the trial
Mr Doherty told the court that an ACLU official had actually written the first draft of the article and sent it to Hurd. “I tried to gather your fire and rage and a really interesting analysis and form it into a document,” the employee said in an email.
Hurd reviewed it with his attorneys, and ACLU attorneys also reviewed it at various stages, all to ensure it didn’t violate the non-disclosure agreement Hurd signed as part of her divorce.
During those discussions, Hurd sent back an edited version approved by her lawyers, which “specifically castrated much of the copy of her marriage,” according to an email from another ACLU official who coordinated with the actress.
According to the email, Hurd was looking for a way to recover a deleted passage in the article. Mr Doherty testified that “the language in the last article is very different from the original language” in the draft.
It was also scheduled to coincide with the release of Aquaman, in which Hurd partnered with Jason Momoa to take advantage of publicity, the court heard.
Where did the $ 7 million divorce settlement go?
Image: Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in the photo in January 2016, just a few months before their separation. Photo: AP
After the separation of Depp and Hurd, the actress promised to split her divorce agreement of $ 7 million between the ACLU and a children’s hospital in Los Angeles.
However, donations were questioned, with the court hearing saying that the ACLU has so far received only $ 1.3 million of the promised $ 3.5 million; details of the hospital were not given.
Mr Doherty testified that the organization had expected the money to come for 10 years, but Hurd had not made any contributions since 2018. However, Hurd’s lawyer said it coincided with Depp’s lawsuit against her, an expensive business. .
He also told the court that he believed technology entrepreneur Elon Musk – who had an affair with Hurd after she broke up with Depp – had paid $ 500,000 of the $ 1.3 million the organization had received. “Yes, we do not know for sure, but this is the understanding of our organization,” he said.
“Everything is swinging around … I saw a bone”
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1:15 Bodyguard describes the consequences of cut fingers
Despite the fact that he was discussing some serious incidents and allegations, evidence of a live video link from security guard Malcolm Connelly provided some lighter moments during Thursday’s trial.
He recounted in detail what he saw in March 2015 on the day he showed up at Depp’s rental house in Australia and found that the actor had badly injured his finger – an injury that the actor himself described as “grotesque” and which appeared several times during the process. already.
He told the court that he had arrived in “chaos” and that Hurd was “screaming” and calling Depp, who was breastfeeding his hand, “a ****** coward” as he left. He says he took Depp to his own apartment and they later went to the hospital.
“The actor’s finger was just a mess” and like a “caricature”, he told the court. “Everything claps around … I saw a bone.”
Asked by one of Hurd’s legal staff if Depp was trying to urinate on the floor when he arrived at the house, Mr Connelly said no. After being told again that the actor was trying to urinate and “pull out his penis”, he interrupted: “I think I would have remembered if I had seen Mr. Depp’s penis” – which caused laughter in the actor and others. in the courtroom.
“He entered the door or the door entered him”
Image: Depp and Hurd in the photo of their honeymoon in Orient Express in 2015
Mr Connelly told the court he had never seen any physical injuries to Hurd. Asked if he had seen anything from Depp, he said he had. “It started with a scratch from time to time, but it got more,” he told the jury.
In more detail, Mr Connelly said he had seen scars such as scratches, or greasy lips, or bruises around the eye socket.
“It was getting more regular. Not every week, but it definitely happened,” he said.
A photo of Depp and Hurd’s honeymoon with the Orient Express from Bangkok to Singapore was shown in court. Mr Connelly said he had taken the picture and it showed swelling under Depp’s left eye.
“It went in a door or a door went in,” Mr. Connelly said when asked what he thought of the swelling.
Hurd claims that Depp was violent during this trip, which he denied.
We learned something else on the 11th day
Image: Witness Edward White is in charge of Johnny Depp’s finances
Depp’s business manager, Edward White, told the court when he began working with the actor in 2016 that his financial situation was “challenging”, but plans were made to turn things around.
The court was told at one point towards the end of his marriage to Hurd that Depp had a $ 160,000 wine bill – but now that has shrunk to “virtually zero”.
When will Hurd take office?
According to Court TV, which is filming the trial live, Hurd is expected to begin his testimony next week – which makes sense as it is halfway through.
They also say that star witnesses who had to testify – such as Musk, James Franco and Paul Bethany – may no longer appear.
Depp vs. Hurd: Background
Depp is suing his ex-wife for $ 50 million (£ 38.2 million) over an article she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018, which his lawyers say wrongly implies that he raped her physically and sexually. Hurd has filed a counterclaim for $ 100 million (£ 76.4 million).
The former couple began dating after meeting on the set of the 2011 film The Rum Diary and they got married in Los Angeles in February 2015.
Read more: The lawsuit in the UK against The Sun – what happened? Why are Depp and Hurd back in court?
Hurd’s article in the Washington Post did not mention Depp by name, but was entitled, “I spoke out against sexual violence – and faced the wrath of our culture.” Depp told the court that it was clear that the article was about him and that he wanted to clear his name.
The trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, has been going on for three weeks and is scheduled to last a total of six weeks, with a one-week break in May.
In introductory remarks, the actor’s lawyers said his ex was preparing for a “lifelong performance” during the trial, while her legal team said the case would reveal the “real” man behind “fame” and “pirate costumes”.
The trial is not taking place on Friday, so it continues on Monday.
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