In court during the trial between Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard, footage from the Los Angeles Police Department was shown from a conversation about domestic violence at the penthouse in Los Angeles, where Ms. Hurd was staying on May 21, 2016.
The defamation lawsuit between Mr. Depp and Ms. Hurd began on April 11 in Fairfax, Virginia, following Mr. Depp’s lawsuit against his ex-wife in March 2019. Mr. Depp claims she slandered him in a post from December 2018, published in The Washington Post entitled “I spoke out against sexual violence – and faced the wrath of our culture. That needs to change. “
Footage from the body camera released to the court on Wednesday during the testimony of police officer William Gatlin shows him and his partner knocking on the door of the penthouse.
Mr Gatlin, who appeared in a video recorded last November, was questioned by Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft.
After an earlier visit by two other Los Angeles police officers to Mr. Depp’s penthouse on the evening of May 21, 2016, Mr. Gatlin came to the residence at 10:24 p.m. that night.
The eight-year-old police veteran said he did not know at the time that he was visiting Mr Depp’s apartment.
Mr Gatlin said he was 10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters) closer to Mrs Hurd, but added that the lighting was “quite dim”. He added that Ms. Hurd and her friends, who were also present in the apartment, did not appear willing to speak.
No one said Mr Depp, who was not present, was Mrs Hurd’s husband at the time, and Mr Gatlin added that Ms Hurd had not tried to show him injuries or property damage.
At the trial against Johnny Depp, a video was shown from the body of Amber Heard’s call for domestic violence on May 21, 2016.
(LAPD)
In the camera footage, Josh Drew opens the door when officers knock. Mr. Drew’s face is not visible in the footage. He lived in the adjoining penthouse, which was also owned by Mr. Depp.
Mr. Drew went to pick up the business card left by the staff who had visited the residence earlier that evening and began closing the door, but instead the staff entered the home, noting that they had received another “notice.”
A female voice is heard on the recording, saying that other police officers have already been home and that everyone is fine. While someone claims that “Johnny” is not present, no last name is provided.
The footage also shows two dogs walking around the police. At the time, Mr. Depp and Mrs. Hurd had two dogs, Pistol and Boo.
Employees ask a few more questions, but leave soon.
“Can you testify whether Amber Heard was a victim of domestic violence by Mr Depp on 21 May 2016?” Ms Bredehoft asked Mr Gatlin.
“Based on our investigation, it did not appear to be the case,” he said, adding that she “refuses to make any statement” and that “at that time” we did not notice any visible or verifiable injuries to her. “
He was also asked if he, as an officer, could testify that Mr Depp had not abused Ms Hurd in any way on 21 May 2016.
“I do not believe that I am able to testify whether he did or not, because I was not there when the incident possibly occurred,” he said.
In her 2018 publication, Ms. Hurd wrote that, like many women, I was harassed and sexually abused when I grew up in college. But I was silent – I did not expect the complaints to be fair. And I didn’t see myself as a victim. “
“Then, two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic violence, and I felt the full force of our culture’s anger at women who speak openly,” she added at the time.
Although Mr Depp is not mentioned in the article, his legal team claims that it contains a “clear implication that Mr. Depp is a domestic abuser”, which they consider to be “definitely and obviously untrue”. Mr Depp is seeking compensation of “at least $ 50 million”.
Ms. Hurd filed a $ 100 million counterclaim against Mr. Depp for inconvenience and immunity from his allegations.
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