Actor Johnny Depp’s friend and witness provoked laughter from the star while he discussed their friendship, also testifying that he “never” saw evidence indicating abuse from Depp.
The high-profile defamation suit continued Wednesday between Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard. Isaac Baruch is an artist that has been living in an apartment completely provided for by Depp.
The longtime friend of Depp testified he did not witness any injuries to Heard the week ahead of her divorce filing and subsequent request for a restraining order in May 2016.
“Nothing, no cuts, no bruises, no swelling, just Amber,” Baruch said.
Then, despite seeing Heard frequently before she filed for divorce on May 23, 2016, Baruch learned of the filing from the internet.
“Surprised is not the word,” Baruch said of his response to the news. “What the hell is this? What’s going on?” he remembered asking. In court, Heard’s lawyers showed Baruch text messages between him and Depp, in which Depp referred to Heard as a c***.
At the time, Baruch lived in an apartment down the hall from Heard in Los Angeles, California. The apartment, in addition to a previous one, was provided rent-free by Depp, while he also paid Baruch $100,000 over four years for 25 new art pieces, according to Baruch’s testimony.
Depp owned five of the building’s penthouse suites at the time, according to building manager Brandon Patterson.
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When Baruch explained the circumstances of his friendship with Depp, which included a rent-free apartment and paycheck, he remembered his response was “Yeah, of course!” The courtroom gallery burst into laughter, including Depp.
Baruch would continue to rouse laughter in the gallery, at one point by complimenting Heard’s teeth, and later with his confusion at the court’s technology when presented with evidence. He testified that he did not see any evidence that Depp was abusing Heard.
Christi Dembrowski continued her testimony from Tuesday as Depp’s sister and business manager. She only referred to the alleged drugs Depp was using at the time of his relationship with Heard as prescribed “pain medication.” Yet, Heard’s lawyers pointed to texts Dembrowski sent to Heard, promising that she would ensure Depp would “get help.”
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“I know six weeks sounds like a lot of time, but it’s only 24 days and we’ve already done three days,” Judge Penney Azcarate reminded both parties after the jury left Wednesday. She encouraged them to make stipulations or legal agreements to shorten their cases. “I promised this jury that we’d be done by Memorial Day Weekend, and we will be done by Memorial Day Weekend.”
