Depp’s lawyers had previously claimed the Kate Moss story was a total fabrication
Johnny Depp’s lawyers could be seen visibly celebrating and fist pumping as Amber Heard mentioned an alleged incident between Depp and his former partner Kate Moss, in which the actor is said to have thrown Moss down a flight of stairs.
Speaking during her testimony, Heard came on to the subject of the actor’s alleged abuse of her sister, Whitney Heard, claiming that she was hit when trying to intervene during a fight between the former couple.
Taking the stand on Thursday, Heard said her sister instantly “threw herself in the line of fire” whilst “trying to get Johnny to stop” during a fight in 2015.
She continued: “Her back was to the staircase, and Johnny swings at her… I don’t hesitate and wait, I instantly think of Kate Moss and stairs.”
This immediately prompted Depp’s lawyer, Ben Chew, to break into a look of joy and amazement before turning to those behind him and celebrating with a fist pump.
Courtroom Moment: On Thursday, #JohnnyDepp‘s attorney Ben Chu appeared to celebrate with a fist pump when #AmberHeard mentioned #KateMoss during her testimony. @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/7KWrD0oGnV
— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) May 6, 2022
Depp and Moss dated from 1994 to 1998. The claim about the stairs incident was initially made as part of the original UK libel trial against The Sun in 2020.
Depp has denied these claims, and his team have labelled the story a complete fabrication, the Independent reports.
It is not clear why Depp’s lawyers reacted like this, but now that Moss’ relationship with Depp has been brought up in the trial, they will be able to use it in the case. It is possible they may have evidence to prove the stairs incident never happened, thus undermining Heard’s credibility.
The trial is currently on a week-long recess, with both Depp and Heard still yet to be cross-examined.
Depp is suing his former wife Heard for defamation over a Washington Post op-ed she wrote in 2018 in which she discussed the subject of domestic abuse.
Depp’s team argue that the piece falsely implies that Heard was physically and sexually abused by Depp while they were married from 2015 to 2017. He is seeking $50m in damages.
Heard is in turn suing her former husband, accusing him of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against her and labelling his lawsuit as a continuation of “abuse and harassment.”
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