Amber Heard Cross-Examination Begins, Confronted With Recordings and Photos at Defamation Trial - Hollywood Reporter

Lawyers for Johnny Depp aimed on Monday to undercut Amber Heard’s credibility, placing front-and-center in their opening salvo on cross-examination an audio recording of Heard saying that people would never believe that she was the abuser in their relationship.

The testimony came after Heard wrapped up her case, detailing over several days on the stand violent altercations in which she says she was beaten and raped by a belligerent Depp.

Asked about the recording of herself encouraging Depp to “tell the world” and “see what a jury and judge thinks” of his claim that she abused him, Heard responded she was in disbelief that Depp would make such a “preposterous” position in the defamation trial.

“Or, like you said, who’s going to believe Johnny Depp, a man, is a victim of domestic violence?” questioned Camille Vasquez, representing Depp.

The central question of the trial in Virginia state court is whether Heard defamed her ex-husband in an op-ed published in The Washington Post that didn’t name Depp but correlated with their time together.

After Heard wrapped up her direct testimony Monday, Depp’s lawyers challenged why photos of Heard after alleged instances of abuse don’t show any visible injuries.

After Vasquez asked whether she’s displayed photos of the injury without makeup, Heard said, “I’d very much like to,” which prompted Depp’s lawyers to object.

Before cross-examination, Heard continued to present her case that Depp defamed her by calling her accusations a hoax.