Johnny Depp Trial: Why Kate Moss testimony on staircase incident is significant
Johnny Depp's legal team called Kate Moss to the witness stand on Thursday as the $50 million defamation case against Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard continues through its final week.
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The supermodel was Depp's girlfriend from 1994 to 1998, according to her testimony. She was called as a rebuttal witness to discredit Amber Heard's testimony alluding to a rumor that Depp had once pushed Moss down a flight of stairs.
Heard referenced the rumored incident in her testimony about an altercation she had with Depp in 2015. Heard says she hit Depp after he swung at her sister, Whitney, while Whitney was standing near the top of a staircase.
"I just, in my head, instantly think of Kate Moss and the stairs and I swing at him," Heard testified.
Johnny Depp Trial: Amber Heard claims Johnny Depp previously pushed Kate Moss down the stairs
During her testimony Thursday, Amber Heard recounted an altercation between her and Depp. Heard testified that her sister tried to intervene in the fight and that Depp allegedly tried to hit Heard's sister. Heard claimed the incident reminded her of previous accusations that Depp physically assaulted Kate Moss in the past.
Because Heard vaguely referenced the alleged staircase incident with Moss, she opened the door for Depp's team to call for testimony refuting Heard's statement.
Moss's testimony was limited to discussion about the time she was injured on a staircase while on vacation with Depp, which is why the testimony lasted only a few minutes.
Johnny Depp Trial: Johnny Depp responds to Kate Moss abuse allegations
Johnny Depp was asked to address a claim Amber Heard made that Depp had previously pushed former girlfriend Kate Moss down the stairs. Depp claims that Heard "took the story and turned it into a very ugly incident, all in her mind," and denied ever pushing Moss down the stairs. Depp made the claim hours after Kate Moss testified in the case that Depp had not pushed her.
"He never pushed me, kicked me or threw me down any stairs," Moss said.
Moss told the jury that she slipped down a flight of stairs while on vacation with Depp in Jamaica during their relationship. She said he was not near her when she fell but that he returned to carry her to get treatment.
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As with all testimony, the jury will determine whether they find it credible in their consideration of the defamation claims and counterclaims.