The hearing on Amber Heard’s domestic violence allegations against her estranged husband Johnny Depp has been delayed.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carl H. Moor ruled Tuesday that the hearing will begin Aug. 17, two days later than planned.
Moor made the decision to delay the start date after concluding the hearing may take up to five days to hear evidence pertaining to Depp’s alleged physical abuse of Heard.
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In filed paperwork, Depp’s attorney Laura Wasser claims that Heard has “severely limited” Depp’s ability to prepare for the hearing.
The Danish Girl actress filed for divorce from the actor earlier this year, and a few days later obtained a temporary restraining order after accusing the Pirates of the Caribbean actor of repeatedly hitting her and throwing a cellphone during a fight in their Los Angeles apartment.
Depp has denied the allegations. Wasser said Tuesday that he wants the hearing concluded as quickly as possible and that the trial is “weighing heavily” on him.
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The restraining order against Depp could extend for up to five years if Heard is successful in the case.
Depp and his lawyers decided to depose Heard in court on Aug. 6, but in a motion filed on Tuesday, Depp’s lawyer accused Heard of dragging her feet and making a scene.
“Amber continues to delay litigation,” the court papers obtained by Us Weekly read. “She refused to testify despite repeated requests from Johnny’s counsel and instead sat with her lawyers, cried on the telephone, yelled, screamed and paced in a separate room.”
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Judge Moor has ordered Heard to sit for a deposition to give her sworn evidence on Friday, Aug. 12 and Depp to give his sworn testimony in advance of the hearing on Saturday.
Heard wants to call Depp as a hostile witness during the proceedings but Moor ruled that he will not be allowed to attend her deposition.
Heard claims in court filings that Depp has been abusive to her throughout their relationship, which started after they met on the set of the 2011 film The Rum Diary.
Heard and Depp were married in 2014, and have no children together.
With files from The Associated Press
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