Amber Heard has claimed that Johnny Depp's legal team has spearheaded a "smear campaign" that employed false allegations about previously assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
Heard, 36, concluded her cross-examination yesterday (May 17), bringing her $100m countersuit trial one step further to a conclusion. Depp is also suing for $50m in defamation damages.
In the final moments of her time on the stand, Depp's attorney Camille Vasquez questioned Heard over an alleged assault against her ex-girlfriend Tasya van Ree in 2009. At the time, it was alleged that Heard hit Ree's arm and pulled her necklace off before being arrested.
The charges were quickly dropped and Ree did not refile them.
"You committed domestic violence against Ms Van Reed didn’t you?" Vasquez questioned.
Heard replied: "No, I did not."
Vasquez was not satisfied with the answer and continued to push, adding that the assault happened at a "Seattle airport in 2009." Still, Heard maintained that said assault never happened.
Vasquez referenced the press coverage of the incident, which Heard said was "planted in the press by Johnny’s team days after I got the TRO. Not coincidentally.
"This is another example of the smear campaign," she added.
Who is Tasya van Ree?
Ree is a painter and photographer originally hailing from Hawaii. According to The Mirror, Heard and Ree dated from 2008 to 2012, with Heard legally changing her last name until they split.
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