Amber Heard, the ex-wife of actor Johnny Depp, can see him testify in a defamation case on allegations of domestic abuse, a court ruled.
Depp is suing Sun editor News Group Newspapers (NGN) and its executive editor Dan Wootton over a 2018 article that described Depp as a “handcuff puncher.” The article cited Heard’s claims that Depp physically abused her during her marriage, a charge she has denied.
The case is scheduled to be heard in a UK court on Tuesday. The NGN legal team failed to get the case out of court earlier this week.
In UK criminal cases, witnesses cannot be present in court while others testify. However, they may be present in civil cases. Depp hoped to ban Heard on the grounds that his testimony would be influenced if she was present while he was questioned.
In a court order published today, Judge Nicol rejected that argument, ruling that it would be “unfair” and “would inhibit … the conduct of his defense.” The defendants NGN and Wootton “rely heavily on the information that Ms. Heard can provide. [Heard] she will not be in a position to give instructions to (NGN’s lawyers), but she can provide information on which the defendants can choose to act, “he said.
