By Lisa Richwine

(Reuters] – British model Kate Moss appeared briefly as a witness in the dispute between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. His attorneys were trying to convince a juror that Heard was an abuser in the relationship.

Heard, the star of “Pirates of the Caribbean”, is now suing Heard for $50 Million in Virginia. Heard claimed that Depp defamed his character when she stated she had been a victim of domestic violence. Heard (36), has countersued and claimed that Depp defamed her after her lawyer stated her claims were “hoaxes”.

On Wednesday, Depp’s attorneys called Moss to be a rebuttal witness. Heard testified that she was afraid Depp would force her sister down a flight of stairs. Heard stated that she recalls “rumors” about Depp pushing Moss down the stairs. To stop Depp from hurting her sister, she hit Depp with her fist.

Moss was a former girlfriend of Depp and testified she fell on a staircase while they were vacationing in Jamaica. Depp ran to assist her and carried her to her bedroom, where she was treated by medical personnel.

Moss said, via video link from England, “He never pushed, kicked, or threw [me down] any stairs.”

Closing arguments for the case in Virginia are set for Friday.

In earlier testimony, Depp stated that he had never struck Heard. He also claimed that it was she who became violent.

The two met on set of “The Rum Diary” in 2011. They were married in February 2015. They divorced two years later.

Heard’s December 2018 Washington Post opinion piece is at the heart of this legal case. Depp wasn’t mentioned at all in the article. However, Heard’s lawyer stated that Heard was making reference to Depp when she claimed she was “a public person representing domestic abuse.”

Depp was once a Hollywood star and said that Heard’s accusations cost him everything. Depp’s new movie “Pirates” was put on hold and he was replaced by the director of “Fantastic Beasts”, a spinoff from Harry Potter.

Heard’s legal team argued she was truthful and that her opinion is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Depp was libel accused in a case against The Sun (a British tabloid) that called him a “wife-beater” less than two decades ago. Heard had been repeatedly attacked by Depp, a London High Court judge said.

The U.S. case was filed by Depp’s legal team in Fairfax County Virginia because there is a Washington Post newspaper. Newspaper is not named as a defendant.