“Who’s the real monster” – Amber Heard grilled in cross-examination

Amber Heard is questioned on her testimony in cross-examination by Johnny Depp’s council

Amber Heard returns to the stand for a cross-examination as Johnny Depp’s lawyers try to prove Heard’s violent tendencies in the relationship.

Depp is suing Heard for defaming him in an article she wrote in Washington Post in 2018, claiming to be a victim of domestic violence. While she didn’t name Depp in the article, his lawyers say it still ruined his reputation with a lie.

Heard has called Depp a “monster” in her previous testimony for doing drugs and beating her up.

Depp’s attorney, Camilla Vasquez questions Heard in the cross-examination on the actress’s own drug use after she reportedly set time out for drugs during her wedding with Depp in 2015.

“Who’s the real monster in this relationship Ms Heard,” Vasquez asks.

“It’s half of Johnny. It’s not all of Johnny,” Heard replies, saying the other half of him is wonderful and beautiful and the man she loved.

Heard is counter filing a claim of $100 million, saying Depp abused her throughout the relationship.

Heard’s ‘love notes’

Heard testified in court that Depp sexually assaulted her with a bottle during the couple’s Australian trip.

Depp’s lawyers claim it was Heard who severed his finger with a vodka bottle, asking Heard during the cross-examination if it was her “who assaulted someone with a bottle in Australia.”

Heard tells the court that she never assaulted Johnny, “ever”.

Depp’s council also show extracts from her journal entries to the jurors, wherein Heard appears to apologise to Depp.

“I’m sorry I can get crazy, I’m sorry I hurt you,” the entry reads.

“I think its important in any relationship to apologize when you’re trying to move past fights,” Heard testifies in response to Vasquez’s questioning.

Vasquez also points to a 2015 entry which was made after the Australian trip and after Depp allegedly “swung” at Heard’s sister.

“I fall more and more for you every day,” the 2015 entry reads.

Heard says these diary entries were a ‘love note’.

“The whole book is love notes,” she says.

Heard’s affair

Vasquez also shows jurors the CCTV footage of the elevator from the couple’s penthouse apartment one day before Heard filed for the divorce.

The footage from May 22, 2016 shows the actress welcoming James Franco into the penthouse, with Franco resting his head on Heard’s neck.

Heard confirmed that the man in the footage was James Franco.

The visit was a day after Heard allegedly got hit in her face with a mobile phone by Depp.

Depp previously accused Heard and Franco of having an affair while they were still together but she denied.

Past relationship

Vasquez also questions Heard about her arrest for alleged assault during her past relationship with Tasya van Ree in 2009.

“You assaulted her at a Seattle airport in 2009 didn’t you,’ Vasquez asks.

“That’s not true,” Heard replies.

Vasquez then reads out a news article about the incident to the court. Heard allegedly hit van Ree ‘s arm but the case wasn’t pursued further.

So, who’s winning?

Sierra Gillespie from Law Network thinks the trial is swaying towards Depp’s side, with Depp’s team “shining” during Heard’s redirect after the cross-examination.

“I am not exaggerating when I tell you we heard dozens of objections today,” Gillespie says referring to the several objections made by Depp’s attorney, Vasquez which didn’t let Heard or her Lawyer sneak in a word.

“Depp’s attorney… made the path that she wanted for Heard’s story,” she says, pointing out how few objections were made by Heard’s attorneys during her cross-examination as well.

“Its going to be confusing for jurors to see Heard’s side,” she says.

Rijul Baath contributed to this report