Monday 23 May 2022 09:52 AM Depp to take the stand again and reveal more bombshells as trial against ... trends now

Johnny Depp is set to take the stand today in a blockbuster climax to his $50 million defamation suit with ex-wife Amber Heard that has already seen more than its fair share of explosive revelations. 

Entering its marathon seventh and final week week, the Pirates of the Caribbean star - who last took the stand two weeks ago - is expected to be called again to undergo cross-examination as a rebuttal witness by Heard's team of lawyers. 

There are conflicting reports of which day the 58-year-old actor will take the stand, with some claiming it will be as soon as today. 

Heard herself took to the stand last week to be cross-examined by Depp's firebrand lawyer Camille Vasquez, who stole the show with her tough questioning of Heard, 36, and tender treatment towards Depp. 

Judge Penney Azcarate, presiding over the dramatic Fairfax County case in Virginia, gave each side a total of 61 hours and 15 minutes to present their cases. 

As of Monday morning, Heard's legal team had 8 hours and 14 minutes left, and Depp's lawyers had 18 hours and 30 minutes left. 

Depp is expected to be the third witness to speak today, following an anatomy expert and an IPV expert during the last week of the trial, which began on April 11. 

Closing arguments for the trial will be heard on Friday, after seven weeks of allegations of drug abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse and death threats.

The move to summon Depp back to the stand has been seen as a brave one by Heard's team, as his last performance was deemed to be likable and credible in his declaration that he was never abusive towards Heard during their relationship.

Civil attorney Katherine Lizardo said: 'There is a risk that he is going to have more time being likable on the stand, when it's actually Amber Heard's time to present her case.'

She said Depp had a 'very unique personality,' and appeared genuine and smiled often, potentially making him appealing to the jury. 

The suit kicked off when Depp sued heard for defamation, demanding $50 million in damages from his ex-wife after she penned a Washing Post op-ed in which she  claims she described herself as 'a public figure representing domestic abuse.'

Depp's lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name, as it falsely portrayed him as a domestic abuser and cost him his lucrative film career, including the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie franchise.

Heard's team have called a litany of former lovers and friends and witnesses to testify to Depp's alleged nature as a jealous and drunken abuser who can only blame himself for his nose-diving Hollywood career.

Since Heard concluded her testimony in a Virginia courtroom Tuesday, her lawyers have presented witness testimony from people who were once close to Depp but shunted from his orbit. 

They've included Depp's former longtime agent, the actor Ellen Barkin and Heard's sister. 

Depp has testified that he never struck Heard and that he was the victim of abuse inflicted by his now ex-wife. 

Heard´s lawyers counter that Depp did abuse her, both physically and sexually, and that he can't deny what happened because he was often too intoxicated to remember. 

Jurors heard recorded testimony from a mutual friend of the couple, iO Tillett Wright, who said Depp

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