The case has been running since March 11
Washington:
This week’s courtroom showdown, teetering between drama and farce, between Johnny Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard focused on the legion of professionals and followers who surround the stars and paint a portrait of Hollywood at all its excesses.
The 36-year-old actress’ allegations of domestic violence and the 58-year-old star’s denials are at the center of a high-profile defamation lawsuit that has been ongoing on the outskirts of the US capital, Washington, since April 11.
After a flurry of testimony on Tuesday, Depp relinquished his place on the witness stand to the supporting cast that surrounded him: agent, driver, bodyguard, wealth manager… And those supporting characters sometimes stole the show.
– The Steaming Porter –
Alejandro Romero is a bouncer at a luxury Los Angeles building where the couple lived. He testified via video link while behind the wheel of his car and said he saw no marks on Heard’s face after the couple’s last argument in May 2016.
The actress appeared in court shortly after, apparently swollen, to seek a protection order.
But the porter didn’t want to dwell on his memories. “I’m so stressed out,” he said, puffing on an e-cigarette. “I don’t want to deal with that anymore,” he said, underscoring the point by starting his car.
“All right,” Judge Penney Azcarate replied. “That was a first, sorry.”
– The faithful bodyguard –
Bodyguard Malcolm Connolly has worked for Depp for 23 years. With a distinctive Scottish accent, he gave his relentless support on Thursday, saying Heard wanted “to put the pants on on this relationship” and said it was she who initiated the couple’s arguments.
When asked about the actor’s alcohol and drug use, he insisted the star has “a very high tolerance” for “any substance.”
“I think Jack Sparrow was drunker than Johnny Depp,” he said, referring to Depp’s famous character in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
Still, he said he’s never seen the actor urinate in a hallway like Heard’s attorneys suggested.
“I think I would remember if I had seen Mr. Depp’s penis,” he said.
Wanting to show his financial dependence on the actor, Heard’s attorneys asked if he had received $8,500 in gifts over the years.
“He gave me so much more than that!” Connolly replied without batting an eyelid.
– Huge checks from the finance manager –
The lifestyle of Depp, who has owned 45 luxury cars, a yacht and several properties including an island, has regularly made headlines.
His chief executive, Edward White, told the court Thursday how he tried to reconcile his accounts while settling the costs of his divorce from Amber Heard in 2017.
“She was originally looking for $4 million in consideration, but her demand has steadily increased,” he said.
In the end, Depp paid her $6.8 million, wrote checks for $200,000 in donations on her behalf, paid half a million to her attorneys, and assumed all debts incurred during her lifetime, roughly $13.5 million.
– The Agent and Familiar –
Christian Carino was an agent and friend of the two actors, but no longer speaks to either of them.
He said via video that he tried unsuccessfully to reconcile them and read text messages exchanged with Heard following their divorce.
In a message, the Aquaman actress said she was “sad” to have broken up with her new lover, billionaire Elon Musk.
“You weren’t in love with him and told me a thousand times you’re just filling the space,” replied Carino, who was once engaged to Lady Gaga.
– Psychological analysis of clothing –
On the first day of the trial, Depp wore a light gray suit with a black tie decorated with a bee motif. The next day Amber Heard wore a gray jacket and the next day a tie with a bee on it.
At the booth, Shannon Curry, a psychologist brought in by Depp’s legal team, said she feels the actress suffers from a “borderline personality disorder” that could cause her to “mimic” those close to her.
– And now? –
Heard’s attorneys want to hear Elon Musk and actor James Franco, another close associate of their client. But the two men declined without explaining their reasons.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)