Team Depp’s all-star attorney Camille Vasquez suggested that Amber Heard was an “abuser” in her closing statement to the court on Friday.
“There is an abuser in this courtroom but it’s not Mr. Depp. There’s a victim of abuse in this court but it’s not Miss Heard“, said Vasquez as the six-week-long defamation trial drew to a close last week.
“Miss Heard is in fact the abuser and Mr. Depp is the abused,” she added.
Vasquez claimed that Heard was a “deeply troubled person” who was “desperate for attention and approval.” It was also noted that Heard had been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder – a severe mental health condition that the Mayo Clinic states can cause paranoia, intense mood swings, and loss of contact with reality.
Depp’s attorney went on to say that she believed Heard had fabricated the claims that Depp had abused her during their relationship and had “ruined his life” and career in the process.
“On May 27, 2016, Miss Heard walked into a courthouse in Los Angeles, California, to get a no notice ex parte restraining order against Mr. Depp and, in doing so, ruined his life by falsely telling the world she was a survivor of domestic violence against Mr. Depp.”
“Today, on May 27, 2022, exactly six years later, we asked you to give Mr. Depp his life back by telling the world that Mr. Depp is not the abuser Miss Heard said he is and hold Miss Heard accountable for her lies.”
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During the trial in which Depp attempted to sue Heard for alleged defamation after she accused the actor of physical and emotional abuse against her – an allegation which Depp denies – Disney chiefs announced that they would be dropping Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
Depp vehemently condemned the move and said that he had been canceled from his work because of baseless allegations.
“What’s at stake is this man’s good name, what’s at stake is a man’s life that he lost when he was accused of heinous crimes and the life he could live when he’s finally vindicated,’ she continued.
“Six years ago today Miss Heard filed a false report of domestic violence against her husband of 15 months, Johnny Depp. It was a setup, she tipped off the paparazzi so they would be waiting.
“They knew where she would pause’ and show off her bruise” the court was then shown a photograph of Heard’s bruises on the cover of People.
Vasquez went on to say that Heard had only shown the public what she “wanted them to see” and that her narrative of abuse was. A “lie‘.
“Most importantly, you heard from Miss Heard herself’ including multiple audio recordings where she admits to being physically violent to Depp.
“Take a minute to think about what you heard there. Imagine that was Mr. Depp saying that to Miss Heard. This is the real miss Heard in the audio recordings.
“What you didn’t hear in a single audio recording was Mr. Depp ever admitting to hitting, punching, or kicking Miss Heard. You didn’t hear it; it didn’t exist. It didn’t happen.
“She didn’t just want a divorce. She wanted to ruin him”.
Heard’s attorney Benjamin Rottenberg accused Depp of orchestrating a smear campaign against his ex-wife and said the actor had refused to accept responsibility:
“He will do everything he can to destroy your life, to destroy your career. That’s what they’re trying to get you to be an accomplice to.
“Mr. Depp cannot and will not take responsibility for his own actions.”
After a lengthy trial, the jury deliberated at 3 pm last Friday as the USA enjoyed a 3-day weekend. Meanwhile, a seemingly carefree Depp joined rocker Jeff Beck on stage in the UK on Sunday to perform a rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing.
A verdict is expected this week.