Beverly Leonard — Direct/Cross
168 linesTHE COURT: Allright. Your next witness.
MS. VASQUEZ: Your Honor, we call Morgan -- excuse me -- Beverly Leonard by video link.
THE COURT: I need a TV. Allright. Just give us a moment to get the TV up. Ms. Leonard, can you hear me?
BRYAN NEUMEISTER: I can.
THE COURT: Can you just count to five for me so I can get you on the big screen in the courtroom
BRYAN NEUMEISTER: One, two, three, four, 3. five.
THE COURT: Allright. That was close. BEVERLY R. LEONARD, a witness called on behalf of the plaintiff and counterclaim defendant, having been first duly sworn by the Clerk, testified as follows: Start taking. We'll see if-- try the first question.
MS. VASQUEZ: Good afternoon, Ms. Leonard.
BEVERLY LEONARD: Good afternoon.
THE COURT: Allright. Ms. Leonard, if you could, speak a little louder for me and try to count to five one more time. I'm trying to get you on the TV screen.
BEVERLY LEONARD: Okay. One, two, three, four, five. four, five.
THE COURT: That did it. All right. The lessons we've learn in COVID, correct? Okay. Allright. Your first question.
MS. VASQUEZ: Thank you very much.
MS. VASQUEZ: Good afternoon, Ms. Leonard.
BEVERLY LEONARD: Good afternoon.
MS. VASQUEZ: Would you please state your full name for the record.
BEVERLY LEONARD: Beverly R. Leonard.
MS. VASQUEZ: Where are you testifying from?
BEVERLY LEONARD: I'm testifying from my home in Arizona.
MS. VASQUEZ: Are you familiar with the defendant in this matter, Amber Heard?
BEVERLY LEONARD: Yes, I am.
MS. VASQUEZ: And how are you familiar with her?
BEVERLY LEONARD: I met her in 2009 at Sea-Tac International Airport.
MS. VASQUEZ: Why were you at the airport?
BEVERLY LEONARD: I worked there.
MS. VASQUEZ: What happened when you met Ms. Heard in 2009 May 25 2022
BEVERLY LEONARD: I was in the baggage claim area, and I observed her with a traveling companion. And they got into an altercation where Ms. Heard was -- had grabbed her traveling companion and pulled something from her neck. At that point, I got up and went over to try to break up what appeared to be a fight, and I summoned a colleague to help me. And I stepped in between them and separated them, stopping any further injuries or escalation.
MS. VASQUEZ: How would you describe the interaction between Ms. Heard and her traveling companion?
BEVERLY LEONARD: Ms. Heard was aggressive toward her traveling companion, and she had reached up and grabbed her arm and pulled a necklace off of her. And then I observed her having it in her hand. She seemed to be not very steady on her feet. Her eyes were blurry and watery, and I could smell alcohol.
MS. VASQUEZ: What was Ms. Heard's travel companion's reaction to being assaulted by Ms. Heard?
MS. BREDEHOFT: Objection. Relevance.
THE COURT: I'll sustain the objection.
THE COURT: I'll sustain the objection.
MS. VASQUEZ: On relevance?
THE COURT: Yes.
MS. VASQUEZ: Okay. -
MS. VASQUEZ: What did Ms. Heard's traveling companion do?
BEVERLY LEONARD: She raised her hands in what appeared to be defensive manner and — but other than that, she was pretty stoic and didn't really respond 9. much. Her stature was two or three inches taller than Ms. Heard, so she — it didn't — she didn't really need to have to defend herself.
MS. VASQUEZ: How would you describe Ms. Heard’s demeanor when you stepped in between Ms. Heard and her traveling companion? 15. A She was somewhat dismissive. She just said, We're just having an argument. We're fine. We're. fine." Because I was asking if they were okay. 19" Are you okay? Is there anything wrong? You know, what's going on?"
MS. BREDEHOFT: Objection. Hearsay. Just objection hearsay to what she said.
THE COURT: Allright. All right. I'll sustain the objection. Next question.
MS. VASQUEZ: What, if any, injuries did you observe on Ms. Heard's traveling companion?
BEVERLY LEONARD: She had abrasion on the side of her neck where the necklace was, like a rope burn from the chain as it was removed.
MS. VASQUEZ: How did you come to testify in this trial?
BEVERLY LEONARD: I became aware of this situation, specifically this trial, because I was-sent an email anonymously -- I don't even know who it came from — asking --
MS. BREDEHOFT: Objection. Hearsay.
THE COURT: I'll sustain the objection.
MS. VASQUEZ: Understood.
MS. VASQUEZ: How would you generally describe Ms. Heard's behavior on the occasion you met her in 2009?
MS. BREDEHOFT: Objection Your Honor already asked and answered the specifics
THE COURT: Sustain the objection. Next question.
MS. VASQUEZ: Did Ms. Heard’s sexual orientation have any impact on how you conducted yourself?
MS. BREDEHOFT: Objection.
THE COURT: I'll sustain the objection.
MS. VASQUEZ: No further questions.
THE COURT: Allright. Any cross-examination?
MS. BREDEHOFT: Briefly.
THE COURT: Okay. Cross-examination.
MS. BREDEHOFT: Ms. Leonard, when did you contact counsel for Mr. Depp?
BEVERLY LEONARD: Late last night,
MS. BREDEHOFT: Late last night? Okay. And this happened in 2009, correct?
BEVERLY LEONARD: Yes.
MS. BREDEHOFT: 13 years ago, correct?
BEVERLY LEONARD: Yes.
MS. BREDEHOFT: And you know that this trial is being televised, right?
BEVERLY LEONARD: Yes.
MS. BREDEHOFT: And so you know that if you have something that might be significant to say, that that way you can get on television, right?
BEVERLY LEONARD: No. [had no desire to be on television. I actually waited for a call and wondered why I hadn't been contacted.
MS. BREDEHOFT: = Allright. But you -- but you only contact -- you reached out and contacted them last night, correct? 13. A Yes.
MS. BREDEHOFT: Okay.
BEVERLY LEONARD: Yes.
MS. BREDEHOFT: Okay. All right. Thank you. I have no further questions.
THE COURT: Any redirect?
MS. VASQUEZ: Nothing further; Your Honor.
THE COURT: Allright. Thanks, Ms. Leonard. You're free to sign off. Thank you. Ms. Leonard. You're free to sign off. Thank you.
BEVERLY LEONARD: All right.
THE COURT: All right. Your next witness.
MS. VASQUEZ: Your Honor, may we approach?
THE COURT: Sure.
MS. VASQUEZ: So our last rebuttal witness is Dr. Gilbert.
THE COURT: Doctor who?
MS. VASQUEZ: Gilbert. He is the hand surgeon. He can only testify tomorrow morning first thing. He has a funeral today. We disclosed that he would be testifying tomorrow, so with that, I don't know if you're going to count time against us today. I mean --
THE COURT: I would.
MS. VASQUEZ: Okay. Well --
THE COURT: That's what we have to do.
MS. VASQUEZ: Yeah.
MS. MEYERS: Your Honor, if I may just make a brief record with respect to Dr. Collins, and then --
THE COURT: Okay.
MS. MEYERS: So first of all, wé would request an opportunity to amend our designations to allow her to testify. ‘
THE COURT: Okay.
MS. MEYERS: And then consist --
THE COURT: Do you want to do a proffer?
MS. MEYERS: We can do a proffer, yes.
THE COURT: You can do a proffer. I'm not going to allow her to just testify, so you can do a proffer. But I don't want to count -- all of those times count half and half, but if you're going to do a proffer, I'm not going to count that.
MS. BREDEHOFT: Thanks.
MS. MEYERS: That's fair, Your Honor.
THE COURT: So do you want to do a proffer now? You can submit a written proffer if you want, and --
MS. MEYERS: We can do that as well.
THE COURT: I can add it to -- let's go with Mr. Nadelhaft's --
MS. MEYERS: The other point we would make is that I understood Your Honor's ruling with respect to.comparing Ms. Heard's testimony with the photographs. And we would also request that Dr. Collins be limited to testify about the injuries reflected in the photographs that are in evidence and have been shown.
THE COURT: All right. I understand. ‘13 I'm going to sustain the objection. So you have nothing further tonight?
MS. VASQUEZ: Nothing further tonight. Dr. Gilbert, very short rebuttal witness, tomorrow.
THE COURT: Just give me the final times so I can give them to them. As of right now. Don't count this bench conference. Actually going to have to add -- is it 45? I'm sorry.
MR. ROTTENBORN: 52. 52 minutes.
THE COURT: 51. We'll give you 51. 51 minutes to the plaintiff's side. You have a lot of time. You've only got one more rebuttal, right?
MS. VASQUEZ: Thank you, Your Honor.
MS. VASQUEZ: That's called wishful thinking, Mr. Chew.
THE COURT: Getting really close. Everybody's starting to get a little giddy.
MS. VASQUEZ: Nervous.
MR. ROTTENBORN: I think both sides are ready for each other to be done.
THE COURT: I am extremely happy. I can't tell you how much.
MS. VASQUEZ: Not that you don't love us.
THE COURT: I can't wait.
MS. VASQUEZ: I don't think so.
MS. VASQUEZ: I don't think so. I haven't yet been accused of being snarky. Accused of a lot of things. SAMMY: For the defendant, that's 1 hour and 16 minutes.
MS. VASQUEZ: Sorry? I'm sorry? SAMMY: I'I'm sorry. For the defendant, it's 1 hour and 16 minutes remaining.
MS. VASQUEZ: 1 hour, 167 SAMMY: Yes.
THE COURT: 16. For the plaintiff, they've used 54 hours and 7 minutes, so --
SAMMY: Seven hours and eight minutes.
THE COURT: Seven hours and eight minutes.
MS. BREDEHOFT: Can we have some of
MS. VASQUEZ: I bet. Maybe for --
MR. ROTTENBORN: Well, if they want to have Dr. Gilbert on the stand for seven hours and eight minutes, then that's fine too.
THE COURT: Yeah, that's fine too.
THE COURT: All right. So with that, I'll excuse the jury. Remember, I need those --
MR. ROTTENBORN: Yes. I was going to address that.
THE COURT: Jury instructions.
MR. ROTTENBORN: Yeah. Thank --
THE COURT: You can go back and have a seat.
MS. VASQUEZ: Okay.
MS. BREDEHOFT: Thank you.
THE COURT: All right. Ladies and gentlemen, we're still on track to have closing arguments on Friday morning. But the plaintiff only has one more witness in rebuttal, and then since we have a counterclaim, the defense has a chance to have rebuttal for their counterclaim. And so we'll hear the remaining witness tomorrow on that. So, since we don't have anything further today, I'm going to go ahead and release you at this point. Do not discuss this with anybody, don't do any research, and we'll see you back tomorrow morning at 9:00, okay? Thank you.
THE COURT: Okay. All right. And then for the record, charge the plaintiff the remaining time till 5:30. The plaintiff has 7 hours and 8 minutes left as of this moment, and the defendant has 1 hour and 16 minutes left. Right? So we're all on the same page. Okay. And jury instructions, we get clean copies today?
MR. ROTTENBORN: Yes, Your Honor. So here's -- I think we just received their comments around noon today, but we've had someone not in court who's been looking at those and, I think, has narrowed down the areas of disagreement and either is sending or has sent to Sammy an email that set forth the few remaining issues of disagreement.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. ROTTENBORN: But largely I think we're mostly there, but I haven't had a chance to read what they sent over.
THE COURT: Mostly. Okay. So I have everything -- so I don't have everything quite yet, then?
MR. ROTTENBORN: It's not finalized yet.
THE COURT: Okay. But I will get it sometime this evening?
THE COURT: We have an hour now. You can stay if the courtroom and work it out. How about that?
MR. ROTTENBORN: We're happy to’address those. I think we need an opportunity to see what -- I mean, we’sent them our comments two days ago, and we just got it three hours ago.
THE COURT: I understand. But we have some extra time right now, so nobody leaves until I get my jury instructions. How's that?
MR. ROTTENBORN: That's fair.
THE COURT: I like that. Okay. We'll do that and the verdict form also, and then if I could read Sammy's handwriting, I can tell exactly what he's saying. Sam, what are you saying here? Oh, yes. We got the three jury instructions that are under advisement, so we'll address those tomorrow — as well, okay? And we'll work on Sammy's penmanship. All right. Anything else?
MR. ROTTENBORN: So to be clear, Your Honor wants to hear the disputes right now or tomorrow?
THE COURT: Well, we could -- I mean, I don't think you know what the disputes are yet.
MR. ROTTENBORN: Right.
THE COURT: So I'll hear the disputes tomorrow. Well, yeah, we can do those at some point tomorrow. It sounds like we're going to have some extra time tomorrow. So we'll take care of those tomorrow, but I want everything today -- I want to know what those disputes are and have what you have clean,
MR. ROTTENBORN: And that's what I'm saying. I think that by 5, you will get what the disputes are.
THE COURT: Okay. For everything, . right? Okay. So stay here until we get all that for everything, right? Okay. Great. Anything else, then?
MR. ROTTENBORN: No, Your Honor. Thank you.
THE COURT: Allright. I'll see you in the morning, then.
MS. BREDEHOFT: Thank you, Your Honor.
COURT BAILIFF: All rise.
MS. BREDEHOFT: IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial seal this 26th day of May, 2022. My Commission Expires: September 30, 2024 NOTARY PUBLIC IN AND FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA May 25, 2022