On Thursday, May 19th, 2021, the defamation trial between actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard resumed in a Fairfax County, Virginia courtroom. Heard’s sister, Whitney Henriquez, had provided riveting testimony the day before. On Thursday, the first witness called to the stand was Bruce Witkin, a longtime friend of Depp’s.
Witkin, a Los Angeles-based attorney, has known Depp for over 30 years and is a close friend of the actor. He was called to the stand to testify about the events leading up to the defamation lawsuit. Witkin is expected to provide insight into the tumultuous relationship between Depp and Heard.
The defamation trial is the result of a lawsuit Depp filed against Heard in 2019. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million for allegedly defaming him in a 2018 Washington Post article. In the article, Heard wrote about her experience as a victim of domestic abuse. Depp has denied all allegations of abuse and is seeking to prove that Heard’s claims are false.
Witkin’s testimony is expected to be a key factor in the trial. He is expected to provide evidence that Heard’s claims of abuse are false and that Depp is not the person she described in the Washington Post article.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with both sides presenting evidence and witnesses. It remains to be seen what impact Witkin’s testimony will have on the outcome of the trial. However, it is clear that his testimony will be a crucial factor in determining the truth behind Heard’s claims.