Depp v Heard: the unreal story extract chapters 1-2

6
DEPP V HEARD: THE UNREAL STORY
Johnny Depp was not only already in court, but due to give evidence
that day.
Before proceedings began, a smartly-dressed woman appeared at
my shoulder. She smiled and told me she was from the company handling
Amber Heard’s PR. The woman gave me her business card and
asked me to get touch if I needed anything. I had never experienced
something like this in a courtroom before, so I tweeted it.
A closed-circuit TV relay was Court 38’s only connection to Court
13. The camera positions were not ideal and the sound quality was poor.
We were going to have to make the best of it. As the judge – Mr Justice
Nicol – entered Court 13, the occupants of Court 38 were commanded
to rise by the usher 2 tasked with keeping an eye on us. We sheepishly
complied, sitting back down as we saw the judge make himself
comfortable.
Nicol made a few housekeeping remarks and then we were off. As
I began to describe the barristers’ opening arguments, something unexpected
happened. My Twitter following exploded. Given Depp v
NGN involved an authentic Hollywood superstar, I knew there would
be some interest in what was going on, but I was not anticipating this
kind of response.
What I also hadn’t twigged was that – due to the pandemic – no US
journalists had been allowed into the UK to cover the case. As is usual
in Britain, the trial was not being televised. It seemed that few of my
colleagues in Court 38 had any interest in posting Twitter updates –
they were busy collecting copy for their own publications. I was therefore
the only hack in the room – and therefore the world – producing
real time trial updates on social media. As my mentions started spinning
like fruit machine reels, I plugged away, trying to give a flavour of
what it was like to be sitting in this surreal environment, reporting what
I soon realised was going to be a gripping case.
After I’d put my evening news piece together, I asked the 5 News
planning desk if they needed me to cover day two of the trial. My services
were not required, so I asked my new followers on Twitter if they
would like me to continue reporting Depp v NGN for them. Yes, came
the unequivocal response. As I had no work booked, I thought I’d give
it a go.
2
Ushers prepare the courtroom, greet people entering court and call defendants and witnesses
to the stand. They perform a similar role to Deputy Sheriffs in the US judicial system, but
in the UK wear cloaks rather than uniform, generally exhibit the air of harassed librarians and
don’t carry guns.