In the civil lawsuit between Johnny Depp (58) and Amber Heard (35), a former marriage counselor of the actors, who have been divorced since 2017, spoke yesterday. Therapist Laurel Anderson said she saw abusive behavior on both sides. Heard provoked Depp with her behavior and started quarrels. During a visit in December 2015, the actress had bruises on her face.
Anderson’s testimony was recorded in February. The video was played before a jury in a courthouse in Fairfax County, Virginia. A former assistant to Heard also spoke via video statement. Kate James said she didn’t witness any physical violence between the couple or noticed any injuries to the actress. But she herself was often insulted by Heard, James said in the recording.
Spectacular procedure
The trial began Monday with jury selection. Depp and Heard are said to testify themselves in the multi-week process, and prominent witnesses are also expected, including Tesla boss Elon Musk and actors Paul Bettany and James Franco.
Depp accuses his ex-wife of making false statements in a 2018 op-ed by the Washington Post on domestic violence. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star is demanding around 50 million dollars (equivalent to a good 45 million euros) in damages for defamation. The actress is seeking $100 million in damages for defamation.