Johnny Depp has already presented his evidence and witnesses in the ongoing defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Meanwhile, the Aquaman star has started presenting her witnesses.
Johnny Depp Vs. Amber Heard Trial: Dr. Dawn Hughes And Dr. Shannon Cury Have Different Diagnoses On Aquaman 2 Star
On Tuesday, clinical psychologist Dawn Hughes took the stand and testified under oath that Amber Heard had PTSD due to the alleged "intimate partner violence by Mr. Depp," People reported.
Last week, Dr. Shannon Curry, a forensic psychologist hired by Johnny Depp's legal team, shared her assessment with Heard. According to Curry, Heard had no PTSD and only "grossly exaggerated" her supposed PTSD symptoms.
Instead, Curry diagnosed Heard with borderline personality disorder with fear of abandonment. According to the expert, a person with the said disorder would "exaggerate" and "explode" when their partner needs space because they would perceive it as a slight against them or an intention to harm them even if that wasn't the case.
Based on the recording obtained by Daily Mail in 2020, Heard didn't want Depp to walk away whenever they argued. The Pirates of the Caribbean star said he was forced to leave when Heard became "manic and angry" and started throwing pots and pans at him. Heard replied, "Just because I've thrown pots and pants does not mean you cannot come and knock on my door."
The recording was from their two-hour therapy session after Heard hit Depp. During their exchange, the Fantastic Beasts star stressed the need for space whenever they fight and get physical.
"If things get physical, we have to separate. We have to be apart from one another," Depp said. "Whether it's for f--king an hour or 10 hours of f--king a day. We must, there can be no physical violence towards each other."
Heard agreed about avoiding physical violence. However, she wasn't okay with Depp walking away, questioning him, "But separating for a day, taking a night off from our marriage?"
Johnny Depp Vs. Amber Heard Trial: Dr. Dawn Hughes Criticized After Testimony
Aside from testifying that Heard has PTSD and blaming Depp for it, many were not convinced by her testimony due to lack of evidence, according to the netizens. The online users alleged that what Heard's expert witness told the jury were things that she heard from the London Fields actress and didn't witness herself.
"That witness yesterday was horrifyingly bad, clearly Heard's team using her to essentially testify on Heard's behalf - we’ve all seen how bad and heard is as a witness- no science, just rhyming off what 'amber says,'" one commented.
"Accusations and repeating what Amber says (hearsay....) are not the same as evidence. And evidence that AH is an abuser is all over the place. You are on the wrong side....!! #JusticeForJohnnyDepp," another added, commenting on a clip of Hughes' testimony.
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"Tbh I do not believe anything that is amber says happened to her without proof. How many times has she lied already," a third netizen opined.
"Amber said...Amber told me that..It's all Amber said and absolutely no evidence to back anything that she says up #amberheardisanabuser," another netizen wrote.
The criticisms against Hughes were not limited to Twitter. During the trial, her WebMD profile was flooded with negative comments accusing her of being biased against men being victims of domestic violence. Some also called her sexist and unprofessional, NBC News reported.
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The negative reviews on Hughes' profile have since been deleted. The expert did not respond to comments about the reviews.
While several netizens attacked Hughes, Heard's supporters praised and believed her. One pointed out her expertise.
"And Dr. Dawn M Hughes, Ph.D. ABPP is a clinical and forensic psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of interpersonal violence and traumatic stress. She has over 20 years of experience and has served as an expert witness in numerous criminal cases," the netizen wrote.
"Dr. Dawn Hughes is the star of this trial. Everybody looking pale in comparison. #JusticeForAmberHeard #IStandWithAmberHeard," one tweeted. Another user agreed and responded, "And she’s only their FIRST witness I am SMILING."
Stay tuned for more news and updates about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's ongoing trial.
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