Tue, May 3rd – “Amber Heard’s First Witness Takes to the Stand”

   Dr Dawn Hughes, a forensic psychologist and expert on “interpersonal violence abuse,” is the first witness to take the stand as part of Amber Heard’s defense.

   If Hughes, who testified as an expert at the trials of Nxivm founder Keith Raniere and disgraced R&B singer R. Kelley, is expected to testify that Johnny Depp’s alleged abuse of Heard is consistent with “intimate partner violence.”

   She will also likely counter testimony from a psychologist called by Depp’s side, Dr. Shannon Curry, about Heard’s mental state.

   Depp, who is suing Heard for Defamation, denies Heard’s accusations of abuse, and has allegedly claimed that she was the violent one in the relationship.

   The judge in the case, Penney Azcarate, denied a request by Heard’s attorneys to dismiss the lawsuit earlier today, after Depp’s team requested its case.

   “Psychologist: Heard has PTSD because of Depp”

   A forensic psychologist testified Tuesday that Actress Amber Heard suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder due to years of abuse by Actor Johnny Depp.

   Dr. Dawn Hughes, testifying on Heard’s behalf at Depp’s $50 million defamation trial against his ex. Says the celebrity couple fits the mold for an abusive relationship.

   “Ms. Heard demonstrated very clear psychological traumatic effects or the exacerbation of trauma from those statements that Mr. Depp’s attorneys made,” Hughes said.

   Testifying on the 13th day of the trial in Fairfax, Virginia, Hughes said the 36-year-old actress’s claims of being a victim of Depp’s violence are consistent with what we know about intimate partner violence.”

   “Love and normalcy are almost always in these relationships,” said Hughes, who practices in New York City. “When you’re in a lull and the violence isn’t happening, you’re back with the man you fell in love with.”

   “It creates a trauma bond,” she said.

   Hughes, the first witness called by Heard’s lawyers, is expected to lay the groundwork as the actress launches her defense at the trial today.