Day 22 · Johnny Depp & Others

Curry presents a three-part rebuttal of Hughes's expert testimony: Hughes misrepresented her own test methods and results, misrepresented Curry's MMPI-2 findings, and passed Heard's self-report off as expert fact. Eight of Hughes's twelve instruments were symptom or domestic-violence checklists inappropriate for forensic use because they lack response-distortion controls. Curry identifies minimization on the PAI and MMPI-2 and exaggeration at the 98th percentile on the TSI-2, and faults Hughes's non-standard CAPS-5 administration. She concludes there was no PTSD and nothing to trigger.

Bredehoft renews her attack on Curry's independence by revisiting the undisclosed dinner at Depp's home and surfacing a second undisclosed meeting with Dr. Shaw. She uses Curry's prior deposition to impeach her on experience with bipolar and IPV cases. Curry concedes that none of Heard's treating providers — Bonnie Jacobs, Connell Cowan, or Laurel Anderson — ever diagnosed Heard with BPD or HPD. Cross ends with Curry confirming she formed no opinion on who abused whom.

Dennison's redirect covers two points attacked on cross: why Curry did not administer the SCID, and whether she followed APA Specialty Guidelines 1.02 and 1.03. Curry explains that limited evaluation time and Heard's difficulty answering direct questions made the structured clinical interview unproductive; she had already restructured her interview into handouts to keep Heard on track. She confirms guideline compliance. The Court then dismisses Curry and announces a 15-minute morning recess.

Jessica Meyers examines Depp on multiple disputed claims from Heard's testimony. Depp denies consuming 8-10 MDMA pills, demonstrates the Australia bar layout using courtroom photos, and introduces a text to Dr. Kipper sent shortly after the finger injury. Honeymoon photos on the Orient Express show Depp with a black eye he attributes to Heard. He describes telling Heard the true Kate Moss story, testifies about Heard's treatment of her sister Whitney, and closes with an emotional denial of all abuse allegations.

Following the lunch recess, Judge Azcarate ruled Neumeister could testify in rebuttal, limited to photographs in evidence and their EXIF metadata. Rottenborn's motion to introduce the UK trial judgment, based on Depp's statement that he had waited six years for the truth, was denied. Charles Tobin of Ballard Spahr appeared for TMZ/EHM Productions to intervene on reporter's privilege grounds to protect Morgan Tremaine from disclosing a confidential source; the court denied intervention as not germane to the defamation case.

Rottenborn challenges Depp's honeymoon black eye claim with Bangkok photos showing the same mark before the Orient Express train ride. He then impeaches Depp's drug-use denials with a post-injury text requesting cocaine and ecstasy, and reads aloud a 2016 text to agent Christian Carino containing degrading language and a death wish directed at Heard. Exhibit 821, a text to Depp's sister, contradicts his denial that he tried to have Heard removed from Aquaman. Rottenborn closes by citing Depp's multi-day testimony in the UK Sun trial to undercut his repeated claim that this proceeding is his first opportunity to tell his story.

Meyers uses redirect to let Depp contextualize damaging cross-examination exhibits: the Carino text as shock at false allegations, the sister/Aquaman text as responsibility to Warner Brothers, and the DX883 messages he disclaims entirely, suggesting someone else used his phone. Sustained objections constrain the Warner Brothers explanation. Depp reaffirms visible facial injuries in the honeymoon photo and closes his testimony with a direct denial of ever abusing Heard.

Morgan Tremaine, former TMZ field assignment manager, testified about three tip-driven assignments involving Amber Heard in 2016. He described how paparazzi were dispatched to the courthouse on May 27 knowing Heard would pose to display her alleged bruise. The kitchen cabinet video TMZ received was shorter than what was played at trial, missing segments where Heard sets up the camera and snickers at it. TMZ did not edit the video. Tremaine confirmed he never received communications from Depp or his camp.

Bredehoft challenged Tremaine's credibility by noting he contacted Depp's counsel six days prior and shared an attorney with other Depp-side witnesses. She accused him of seeking publicity from the televised trial; Tremaine denied this sharply, noting he risked TMZ's retaliation. Bredehoft then questioned whether Depp's team had advance knowledge of Heard's TRO filing and whether Depp's divorce attorney Blair Berk had ties to TMZ — implying the insider tips may have come from Depp's camp.

In a brief redirect, Vasquez asks Tremaine why he reached out to Depp's legal team. Tremaine explains he noticed a discrepancy between the kitchen cabinet video shown at trial and the version TMZ received, and contacted her only to help clarify the publication timeline. He states he had no interest in testifying and was surprised to find himself on the stand.

Bryan Neumeister, CEO of USA Forensic, testified as Depp's forensics expert on photo authenticity. EXIF metadata in Heard's injury photos showed "Photos 3.0" or "Photos 1.5" editing software rather than iOS version numbers, indicating the photos passed through Apple's photo editing app. Defense objections confined his testimony to EXIF metadata only, blocking chroma and forensic-imaging analysis. His final opinion: no forensic expert could validate any of the analyzed photos.

Murphy cross-examined Depp's forensic expert, establishing he holds no computer science degree or certifications. Through deposition impeachment, Murphy confined Neumeister's opinions: the Photos 3.0 EXIF notation does not establish visual editing on its own, and he found no affirmative EXIF modification evidence. Neumeister resisted yes/no answers, claiming the question was scientifically unanswerable. He countered that defense exhibits had been converted from Apple to Microsoft format.

Lecaroz redirected Neumeister to address Murphy's cross regarding photo editing indicators. Neumeister clarified that his report treated "metadata" and "EXIF data" as distinct concepts and that the cross had taken his findings out of context. He detailed iTunes backup limitations: no system files, knowledgeC database, or log files. Murphy's scope objection was overruled, and Neumeister concluded the extractions were third-generation backups making individual photo verification impossible.

Beverly Leonard, a Sea-Tac Airport employee in 2009, testified via video link from Arizona. She described intervening in a baggage-claim altercation in which Heard grabbed a traveling companion by the arm and pulled a necklace from her neck. Leonard observed Heard appearing unsteady, with blurry eyes, smelling of alcohol. The companion sustained a rope-burn abrasion where the necklace was removed. Several objections were sustained, curtailing questions about the companion's reaction and how Leonard came to testify.

Bredehoft's cross of Beverly Leonard focused on a single credibility challenge: Leonard had contacted Depp's counsel only the previous night, despite the incident occurring 13 years earlier. Bredehoft also suggested the trial's television coverage may have motivated Leonard to come forward. Leonard denied any desire for TV attention, stating she had waited to be contacted. No redirect followed and the witness was dismissed.