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President Zelenskyy Holds Press Conference; Ukraine: Five Killed, 18 Wounded In Russian Missiles Strikes In Odessa; Two Russian Oligarchs And Their Families Found Dead Within 24 Hours; Photographer Documents The Horrors Of War In His Own Country; Patchwork Of Mask Mandates Confuses Travelers Nationwide; Suspect Formally Identified In Case Of Missing British Girl; Johnny Depp Testifies Relationship With Ex Turned "Volatile". Aired 1-2p ET

Aired April 23, 2022 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:05]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. This breaking news into the CNN NEWSROOM just moments ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding a press conference on the platform of a subway station. Zelenskyy addressing concerns about his own safety and possible attempts on his life by Russia.

He also talked about opening up peace talks with Vladimir Putin. Here's a portion of what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): So, instantly, this is the answer about the attempted murders. I'm not that afraid of that. My gods are afraid of that. I am not the one who's afraid. And my family's afraid of the attempted murders, just to be really sincere. As for the topic of the meeting with the President of Russia, yes, I would like to start to finalize the war. There is the diplomatic way. And there is the military ways.

So, any healthy and sane person always chooses diplomatic way, because he or she knows that even if it's hard, it may stop the losses of thousands -- of tens of thousands. And with such neighbors, hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions of victims. Victims, losses of people. We don't want that. And any leader, whether he wants that or not, he doesn't have the right to deny it subjectively because it would be a subjective decision to deny the diplomatic way.

And it's also important for our partners, I may say, because we are constantly -- we're speaking about that and made certain steps to follow the diplomatic solution of the military conflict and the war with Russian Federation, our partners, both European and the partners. From Beyond the oceans, the United States, Canada, everybody sees that what Russia says and who's saying during all these times that Ukraine itself doesn't want to seat at that negotiations table and then the war. Everybody could see that it was the kind of piling up effect. And now, it will manage to do that. Our trust, to the trust for our -- of our partners to ask is the highest level, but there is no trust to Russia. Those are not synonyms, those antonyms Russia and trust because they're just saying something and their words do not coincide with actions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what about the security issues?

ZELENSKYY: Yes, security issues. Just a second. So, I don't remember the second part of your question. I'm not afraid of meeting with the president. If you're about the attempted murders, let's wait a bit. I don't have the right to be afraid. I don't have the right to be afraid because our people showed that they are not afraid of anything. They are afraid for their children. That's true. People were stopping tanks with their bare hands and other Russian military armament, as well as our armed forces of Ukraine did, as well as our National Guard did.

There are lots of security measures here. It doesn't seem to you well, but you will still know that you're in safety now. That is why you're saying a normal leader doesn't have the right to be afraid when we are speaking about this state and about our independence. Thank you. Thank you. CGTN. Right? if I pronounced the fall through please.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. CGTN. Mr. President, you emphasized already your readiness of the peaceful negotiations with Russia and the Secretary General of the U.N. is planning to visit Moscow and Kyiv. We've also heard that. The United States and the allies are sending arms and weapons. How can this weapon come to Ukraine? And simultaneously, Moscow says that you go on with the school asking for military help and support from the NATO member countries, that this help won't help the peaceful negotiations. Could you comment on that?

ZELENSKYY: Could you repeat the beginning of your question?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the very beginning you can, yes, sure. You (INAUDIBLE) speaking about your readiness for the peaceful negotiations with Russia.

[13:05:08]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know that the U.N. Secretary General will come to kill you, and Moscow. And we'll be speaking about the peaceful negotiations. And they say that the United States and alliances are providing weapons to your country. But Moscow is saying that your permanent requests of weapons only add fire to the situation. And this is only interfering the negotiations process.

ZELENSKYY: Oh, thank you for the question. Of course, we will meet the secretary general who will come to us with us, we'll communicate with him. It seems to me that we have done lots of steps for his position also to change. And his position to be strong enough as for the support of Ukraine. I had several personal meetings with him. And I am rather firm, saying that you cannot balance between Ukraine and Russia. We are expecting for 100 percent support from the U.N. Secretary General. 100 percent because 100 percent of troop is on our side. And the war is taking place here. So, I think that after the arrival, and if the secretary general has time, I think that his -- has a very respectful status. He should definitely visit first the cities where there were tortures and where people were killed.

And then he will find time for the esteemed and respectful colleagues from Russia. It's important for him to understand what's happening here to have a very precise perspective, which the secretary general can bring and deliver to Moscow meeting with the president of the state. Because if we just come to Kyiv and communicate, it's not enough. So, I consider that first of all, you need to understand what is taking place here.

That is why lots of leaders both like chancellor of Austria, I always offered if they go to Russia, to Moscow, first you should understand what is happening here if you're speaking really about the help and support, not about political tourism. So, I think you will see it here and his opinion about Ukraine will be even stronger. As for the weapon delivery to Ukraine, weapons supply, we are definitely not interested in the opinion of Russian Federation.

Though they, since the beginning of war, we're delivering it as well. If you remember the full scale invasion, how they were fleeing, leaving the tanks. We are grateful for those deliveries. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy there. I mean, in the midst of an invasion, an incredible display there and a real first an extraordinary -- extraordinarily produced press conference taking place on a running subway platform there. Scott McLean is in Lviv. He has been watching it as we are too. And Scott, it's striking for a number of reasons because the president there is strongly advocating for talks with Putin.

And he used the words like only a healthy sane person chooses diplomacy. So, he's also challenging Putin, challenging his mindset to ask him to meet, you know, with him essentially, in some sort of diplomacy to end this invasion.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka. And if you listen to some of the questions from the Ukrainian journalists at that press conference, they seem to imply quite heavily that perhaps President Putin is not in the correct mental state. And that is why perhaps he is deciding to go ahead and launch this war despite the repercussions. I agree with you that what Zelenskyy is saying in his desire for talks is certainly significant.

Especially since Ukrainian officials have said in the past that some of the things that they've discovered that Russia has done especially in the suburbs of Kyiv, and some of the brutality there has really dampened the -- has really dampened expectations for talks and dampen the willingness for the Ukrainians to really engage in those talks because at some point, as the foreign minister made clear today, you don't want to engage with terrorism.

That's the word that he's using describing the most recent strikes on Odessa as terror. And so, it's really surprising to hear that Zelenskyy is still very much open to talks though it also sounds like he perhaps doesn't think that those talks will be easy or immediately bear much fruit.

[13:10:07]

WHITFIELD: Right. And he's also acknowledging the continued danger that he's in. I mean, this press conference comes with great risk as well, right? I mean, you look at the room, there are a lot of journalists there. There are a lot of people there, the subway is in operation. But it sounds as though we're hearing from him that this is a risk that he's willing to take, because he sees real value in verbalizing, you know, his representation of this country under siege.

MCLEAN: Yes, certainly the risk has lessened since the outset of the war when he was essentially traveling from underground bunker to underground bunker trying to stay on the move as to avoid the Russians and the potential for them to target the building that he was in. You'll just have to ask are Matthew Chance and how difficult it was for him to link up with the president in the early days of war, given all of his movements and the secrecy around his location.

Clearly, the danger in Kyiv is still very much there. But not the kind of danger that we've seen earlier. There are not tanks surrounding the city, there's not the risk of, of shelling or that type of thing. Obviously, bombs are still much -- very much a threat and still very much a potential, which is why they've chosen to have this press conference underground, considering that they've invited the wider media and a lot of people and obviously, there's no way to keep that location secret.

WHITFIELD: And all of this taking place as obviously there are cities throughout the country that continue to be a targeted. Strikes taking place most recently in Odessa, in that port city. What can you tell us about that continued threat?

MCLEAN: Yes. So, Fredericka, the latest numbers that we have our five dead, 18 wounded. That is according to the Ukrainian president's office. And of course, they say that there may be more. These are just the ones that they know about. And what is especially sad about this is they say that a three-month old baby is among the dead. And also consider that for most Ukrainians tomorrow is Easter. That is not the kind of thing that anyone is going to be celebrating.

We know that according again to the president's office, the strikes hit a military facility and two residential buildings. The Ukrainians say that two missiles out of the six that were fired, were actually struck down by the anti-missile defense system. And two drones were also struck down as well.

I mentioned the foreign minister had some comments in the wake of this recent strike saying that the only point of strikes like this is to inflict terror on the population and that -- and that Ukraine ought to consider Russia a state sponsor of terrorism which would mean cutting cultural ties, cutting contacts and cutting business relationships with the country as well.

WHITFIELD: So, also disturbing is Scott, what you're telling us about earlier today, perhaps a form of intimidation, intentionally intimidating and frightening people who think they are boarding buses to safety, only to be taken into Russia? Do we know anything more about -- is, you know, is this outright people being tricked or is there some explanation as to why this was happening?

MCLEAN: That's what it appears to be. Obviously, we don't have the Russian side of this story at the moment. But according to the Ukrainians, what happened is, there was a humanitarian corridor that was supposed to leave from a shopping mall on the western edge of the city earlier today. There were about 200 people who had managed to find out about that corridor, despite the lack of communications and were ready to leave the city.

However, instead of buses showing up, the Ukrainians say that Russian soldiers showed up and told them to disperse because there would be shelling in the area. What those people found, though, is that there were another set of buses parked about 200 yards away, they boarded those buses and only after they boarded where they told they weren't going to their originally scheduled destination Zaporizhzhia in Ukrainian-held territory.

Instead, they were going to a town in Russian-held territory. And this is certainly part of a trend, Fredricka that we've seen of people being pushed into Russia, whether they want to go there or not.

WHITFIELD: All right, so frightening. Thank you so much, Scott McLean. We'll check back with you as we continue to monitor and get more information and tape coming from this press conference of President Zelenskyy. Thanks so much, Scott. All right, coming up. Cases, eerily similar to Russian oligarchs alongside with their wives and children found dead within 24 hours this week. We'll have details straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:18:51]

WHITFIELD: The images are haunting. Pictures of the destruction, the despair, the horror of this invasion into Ukraine taken by Ukrainian photo journalist Maxim Dondyuk. His work has appeared around the world including this piece in Time magazine with writer Simon Shuster. And now he joins me from Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, but you know what, we're actually having technical difficulties right now.

So, we're going to try to reconnect with Maxim momentarily. And it looks like with this heavy pause, it looks like we might have him back now. OK. Let's try this -- oh, there he is. Very good, Maxim. I'm so glad you're with us. So, you know, talk to me about what this journey has been like for you because you started documenting as soon as this invasion took place in February. You are Ukrainian. This hits so close to home for you. So, what were some of your first images? What struck you? What did you start capturing?

MAXIM DONDYUK, PHOTOJOURNALIST: Yes. Hello, Fedricka and thank you for inviting me again.

[13:20:02]

DONDYUK: Yes, so, just -- yes. Just to mention and just to cover this war because it's my home. I'm not like photojournalist who come from another country. Yes. So just -- I need to stay here. I even cannot go abroad. So, I need to just fight with Russian propaganda looks like this, I need to show true for the whole world. And so, this was in Kyiv, in Bucha or Kharkiv. And now in Zaporizhzhia and south frontline. So it's -- I should to do it.

WHITFIELD: Yes. You feel you had to do it. I mean --

DONDYUK: And just --

WHITFIELD: Yes. This is your country, you have to do this, you have to show people, what you're seeing. You are a eyewitness to this horrifying page in history. So, I do want to ask you about some very specific photographs. And I do want to warn people that it is very disturbing to see these images. But you also felt the importance of taking them. So, here we go. We're going to be talking about a woman and a man both dead in their home.

And it looks like right under the table of one of the people. Tell me -- and they are in a doorway. Tell me about what you believe is happening here. What happened and why it was important for you to take these images?

All right. It looks like we're again having a problem with our signal. But we're going to take --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: OK. Maxim, do you hear me? No. OK. We're going to -- we're going to try it again another time. But these are important images. And it's real life. And, you know, this sits close to home for him because this is essentially happening right in his backyard, in his country. But you heard him say he has been kind of dotting the map in so many different cities and documenting the travesty.

So, we're going to try again at some point to reconnect with a Maxim Dondyuk. All right. Also, still ahead. A federal judge in this country in Florida, striking down the mask mandate for airplanes and other public transport methods, leaving some travelers pretty confused.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:26:42]

WHITFIELD: All right. We're going to try this again. We think we have reconnected with Ukrainian photographer. There he is. Maxim Dondyuk talking about the work that he has done, the images that he has captured. Right now he's in Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine. Thank you so much, Maxim, for hanging with us. And I do want to warn people that these images that we're about to talk about are very disturbing.

They're very graphic but this is what is unfolding in his home country. So, Maxim, I had asked you about a photograph that just as heartbreaking. You see a woman who is dead near a table and then you see a man who is dead near a doorway. What happened in those moments?

DONDYUK: Yes. Just -- Bucha just in. Everybody know about Bucha. So, it's -- unfortunately, you can find that body in everywhere in the inside of house or just on the street. Mostly people executed but a lot of people also just die because of mortar shelling. So, this -- it's one billion in just -- it's two women and looks like it's two sister or mother and daughter, I don't know. So, one moment was outside and another woman was inside.

It was -- they was killed to mortar shelling. And can I just walk in with James Nocturne (ph). We just work together in this day and just -- somebody asked just check this building and we just find one woman outside and another woman inside. So, it looks like it just like was morning or evening. I don't know that a woman inside looks like just do something in the kitchen and die immediately -- unfortunately.

And too many dead bodies in the Bucha. So people cannot collect bodies during the week. So just -- sometimes bodies just leave in sight of how just five days or a week and wait just some -- people just come to take off it.

WHITFIELD: When you were walking through these towns, it seems as though you are walking through a crime scene with everything. I mean you were seeing people --

DONDYUK: Everywhere. Everywhere.

WHITFIELD: Describe for me what motivated you to, you know, you also have pictures of Ukrainian soldiers, you know, some looking like they are posing proudly, others who are, you know, on the tank there. And day to day life, what are you capturing when you have seen them?

DONDYUK: That you mean picture were just tanks and dead body? What do you mean or what? Sorry.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Yes. When I'm looking at some of the pictures of -- it looks like some of the soldiers are, you know, posing next to a vehicle. Some are on a tank, you know, when you come across them, what are you hoping -- what kind of stories are you hoping are being told by your pictures?

DONDYUK: Yes. Just for me, it's -- I'm just shoot to cover this like documentary history moment. I just try to feel this moment and share and spread this situation for the whole world because now just Russia make a lot of facts, a lot of propaganda. And I'm Ukrainian. For me much easy understand situation and deeper fields is. And I try to fill every moment.

[13:30:00]

And of course, I am not happy take picture of dead body or just even dead Russian body, soldier on battlefields. I need to do it because it's very important, especially like Bucha or like another town. It's very important to capture every picture and for history moment.

For me it's very important because everybody in Ukraine should decide or go away from Ukraine or resist Russian invasion. Somebody like teacher or (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: Yes. Every picture, I'm looking at them, obviously, it's all demonstrating loss, loss of cities, loss of homes, loss of life, loss of limbs with that one woman holding up what appeared to be only a portion of her arm.

Maxim Dondyuk, I'm so glad we were able to reconnect. I mean, these are heartbreaking images, but of course, it's history being told through your lens.

Thank you so much for being with us.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:35:30]

WHITFIELD: Across the country, there has been no shortage of confusion after a federal court struck down the mask mandate on public transportation.

CNN's Pete Muntean took a trip just to find out how things have changed and how travelers are adjusting to the new rules.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We put the new nationwide patchwork of mask rules at airports and transit hubs to the test.

A mask optional rideshare started my trip from Washington, D.C.

(on camera): OK. We're going to Union Station. No mask required.

(voice-over): Most people here are still wearing masks. Like Verna Swann, who was boarding our train to Philadelphia.

VERNA SWANN, TRAVELING TO CONNECTICUT: I just feel like I need to take more precautions than anyone else. So --

MUNTEAN (on camera): You are just being careful?

SWANN: I'm being careful.

UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: Masks are welcome and remain an important preventive measure.

MUNTEAN: After Monday's sudden end of the federal transportation mask mandate, Amtrak was among the first to announce that masks are now optional.

ANTHONY TISDALE, CONDUCTOR, AMTRAK: Thank you, sir.

MUNTEAN (on camera): Thank you.

(voice-over): Conductor Anthony Tisdale told me he is going mask-less after months of wearing one on the job.

TISDALE: I'm like, yes! I took it right off.

MUNTEAN: My train took me to Philadelphia Center City Amtrak hub. Philly was one of the few major cities to have an indoor mask mandate. But it was just rescinded.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It changes a lot. So, it has been confusing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like I should wear a mask regardless.

MUNTEAN: My trip continued with a ride on public transit.

(on camera): Except that here in Philadelphia, one of the mass transit systems where masks are optional, unlike the New York City subway system, where masks are still mandatory. The change here happened so abruptly, the sign hasn't been changed yet.

(voice-over): During my travels on Thursday, Philadelphia's airport was one of the few still requiring masks inside the terminal.

LAX in Los Angeles is joining the list, along with New York's Kennedy and LaGuardia.

MARY NICHOLS, PHILADELPHIA TRAVELER: I think it's confusing. We all need to be on the same page.

MUNTEAN: But the airport's mask rule no longer applies the moment you board.

(on camera): About to go down the jetway, another change in policy. We're leaving the airport where masks were required. Now we're getting on the plane. The transportation mask mandate is over, so I can take my mask off.

(voice-over): Once seated, I did decide to wear a mask.

The 32-minute flight back to D.C. was full. It is a new era for travel now governed by personal choice and a patchwork of rules.

(on camera): Here at Reagan National Airport, where we landed, no masking is required.

The point is, it's getting harder and harder to know the local mask rules as you travel. Two examples: Philadelphia International Airport told us on Friday

that the mask rules there are loosening up, whereas, at LAX, the rules there are tightening.

You could still wear a mask while you're traveling. In fact, the CDC still recommends it.

Pete Muntean, CNN, Reagan National Airport.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: With me now to discuss the new mask rules or, in some cases, lack thereof, David Soucie. He's a CNN aviation safety analyst and a former FAA safety inspector.

David, good to see you.

So what are your thoughts --

DAVID SOUCIE, CNN AVIATION SAFETY ANALYST: Good to see you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: -- mask, no mask on airplanes?

SOUCIE: Well, that was a great piece that Pete put together about how confusing it can be.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

SOUCIE: But it's important to remember that the mask mandate has been lifted, but that's just a legal issue. It has nothing to do with safety. It has nothing to do with whether you can get the virus or not. It's a personal choice now.

People say it's confusing. But it's not. It's really up to you. It's up to you to decide whether you need to wear that mask or not.

WHITFIELD: So far this year, the Federal Aviation Administration has logged more than 1,200 reports of unruly passenger behavior, and nearly 65 percent of those cases were mask related.

So now do you believe those numbers might be reduced significantly as a result?

SOUCIE: I'm not sure that they will, Fred. I mean, there are just as many people almost militant about wearing it as there are not. I'm not sure that's going to go down.

As you pointed out, there were 1,200. And 400 of those incidents, which is still higher than normal, those 400 were not mask related. So those will continue.

The important thing to point out here is that, if you did get dinged for being violent or disruptive to a flight, that has nothing to do with the mask. So you're still going to be on that list.

In fact, they've petitioned now to President Biden to come out with a no-fly list for those that were combative on the airlines.

WHITFIELD: OK. Except in the cases of Delta, United, American Airlines, they now say that they will actually restore flight privileges on a case-by-case basis for some of the passengers who were banned for not following mask rules.

[13:40:11]

So add to the confusion? What do you think here?

SOUCIE: Well, it does. But remember, that's for not adhering to mask rules. That's different from being combative or disrupting the flight. Those that are still disrupting the flight, Delta and others, are still going to support that.

It's not up to them at that point. It's up to the FAA as to whether they can or not. They're the ones that would restrict the flight privileges.

Although the airlines can as well, the FAA is the one that will say, no, you can or you cannot get back on because of the potential risk of them getting violent again.

WHITFIELD: All right. The Department of Justice is appealing, the federal court judge ruling.

And if the government wins this appeal or another surge of COVID cases force airlines or the government to issue another mask mandate, I mean, what is the message, do you think, that's being sent to passengers?

SOUCIE: A very confusing one, Fred. I mean, I'm confused as heck myself and I'm a professional looking into this every day. It does get more confusing every day.

But again, I want to go back to the fact that people need to understand that their personal risk is what we're discussing here. It's not to do with the general laws and the policies and whatever. It's your personal risk.

And don't have this atrophy of vigilance, thinking I'm completely safe now. There's still 500 people a day dying with COVID-related cases as compared to flu.

People say, well, a lot of people die of flu. But that's less than half, way less than half of the number of people related to the COVID cases.

So it's still a risk. Don't get complacent about this. Make sure that you're making the decision for you. Just because you can take your mask off, doesn't mean you have to.

WHITFIELD: Yes, good advice.

All right, David Soucie, good to see you. Thanks so much.

SOUCIE: All right, good to see you, Fred. Have a great day.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. You, as well.

All right, so if everyone around you is maskless, can wearing a mask still protect you from COVID-19?

CNN health reporter, Jacqueline Howard, has the answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: The short answer here is yes. Wearing a mask can still give you some protection, even if you're the only one masked. But how much protection depends on the mask type.

In one study released by the CDC earlier this year, wearing a cloth mask was associated with 56 percent lower odds of testing positive for COVID-19. Wearing a surgical mask was associated with 66 percent lower odds.

But for the most protection, wearing an N-95 or KN-95 was associated with 83 percent lower odds.

And that's compared with wearing no mask.

Now, I spoke with an expert on aerosol particles about this, Chris Kappa. And he tells me that if everyone else is unmasked, those percentages could go down. That's because more particles from the unmasked people could release into the air.

But the bottom line, if your mask is on, that mask can still filter particles offering some protection.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Jacqueline Howard, thank you so much.

Coming up, Johnny Depp takes the stand in the defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. You'll hear the text messages and audio recordings that were exposed in court next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:47:54]

WHITFIELD: Fifteen 15 years after British toddler, Madeleine McCann, disappeared during a family vacation, a suspect has been formally identified in the case.

Nina dos Santos has more from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN EUROPE EDITOR: Portuguese authorities on Friday said that they had identified a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, one of the most high-profile, mysterious missing person cases to have captivated the world's attention.

And also a case that hasn't really moved forward for quite some time now.

They didn't specifically name the individual in question, but the Portuguese authorities said they had been liaisoning with German authorities.

And that is where the case has been progressing for the last two years after, in 2020, German authorities said they had an individual in custody in German jails, serving time for separate unrelated offenses, who they believed knew what happened to Madeleine McCann all those years ago.

That suspect was identified at the time as Christian B. But authorities said they didn't have enough evidence to charge him with the particular crime at the time. And he still hasn't been charged.

The latest move, what it does for a Portuguese legal perspective, is to keep this case alive just before the statute of limitations was set to expire on May 3rd.

That would have been the 15th anniversary since Madeleine McCann disappeared on a family holiday back in 2007.

Having said that, though, sadly, German authorities already said two years ago that they were working on the assumption back then that Madeleine McCann may no longer be alive.

Nina dos Santos, CNN, in London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And other top stories we're following this hour, the suspect in a shooting rampage that left four people wounded in Washington, D.C., on Friday is dead. Police say the man took his own life in the apartment where he was found.

They also recovered six firearms from inside that same apartment, including long guns, handguns and multiple rounds of ammunition.

The search is still on for a person of interest, 23-year-old Raymond Spencer, who is not considered a suspect in the case.

And in New Mexico, dry conditions and extreme wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour fueling at least four dangerous wildfires in two counties just east of Santa Fe.

[13:50:05]

The Calf Canyon Fire has forced the evacuation of at least 20 communities in Mora County, with another eight areas prepping to evacuate today.

Meanwhile, in San Miguel County, the Hermit Peaks Fire has burned about 7,500 acres since April 6th. An ongoing drama, Hollywood style. Allegations of threats, violence

and drug use were along the bombshells on display during a gripping three-days' of testimony from Johnny Depp in the ongoing defamation lawsuit against ex-wife, Amber Heard.

Here is Polo Sandoval.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Three straight days of testimony this week paint a disturbing picture of the relationship between actors, Johnny Depp and ex-wife, Amber Heard.

Depp has been on the witness stand as part of week two of his defamation trial against Heard.

(MUSIC)

SANDOVAL: The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star suing Heard for $50 million in Virginia court over a 2018 "Washington Post" opinion piece. In it, Heard wrote about her experience with domestic abuse.

Though Depp was not named in the piece, the actor claimed it caused him financial losses.

JOHNNY DEPP, ACTOR: I felt the responsibility of clearing the record.

SANDOVAL: This week, Depp told a jury his romance with Heard was seemingly perfect early on. But the relationship became volatile and quickly hit bottom after they married.

Depp denied various allegation from Heard that he physically harmed her in 2015.

DEPP: There were arguments and things of that nature that never did I, myself, reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life.

SANDOVAL: He also testified that he was the one subjected to mental and physical abuse.

DEPP: It could begin with a slap. It could begin with a shove. It could begin with, you know, throwing a TV remote at my head. It could be throwing a glass of wine in my face.

SANDOVAL: Depp testified that, on one occasion in 2015, Heard threw a vodka bottle at him, severing his fingertip, which she has denied. And that during a separate incident, she put out a cigarette on his face.

On Thursday, though, Heard's attorney attempted to cast a different light on Ocar-nominated actor using his history of substance abuse.

UNIDENTIFIED ATTORNEY FOR AMBER HEARD: And you would sometimes drink whiskey in the morning, right, during this time period.

DEPP: I -- I mean, you know what I mean, isn't happy hour anytime? (LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED ATTORNEY FOR AMBER HEARD: One of your good friends that you have taken drugs with before is Marilyn Manson, right?

DEPP: We have had cocaine together maybe a couple of times.

SANDOVAL: Testimony turned even more crude when the defense used Depp's text messages to a friend to show rage toward Heard.

UNIDENTIFIED ATTORNEY FOR AMBER HEARD: After you said, "Let's drown her before we burn her," Mr. Depp, you said, "I will (EXPLETIVE DELETED) her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead."

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SANDOVAL: And this video showing an irate Depp was played in court Thursday by the defense

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DEPP: Here's your crazy. All your crazy.

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SANDOVAL: Depp responded saying he did not insult her during the recorded tirade.

SARA AZARI, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: There's evidence on both sides that they have also perpetrated domestic violence.

So at the end of the day, this jury is going to be tasked with deciding is this is relationship of mutual combat? And how does this impact the statement that she is a victim of domestic violence? It sounds like we have two perpetrators.

SANDOVAL: The jury heads back to court on Monday to hear more testify. Heard has yet to take the stand in her own defense.

Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.

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WHITFIELD: All right, thank you for joining me today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

The CNN NEWSROOM continues with Jim Acosta after this.

But first, a Michigan woman takes the recipes her mom cooked up for healthier skin and turns it into a profitable bath and body business. It is today's "START SMALL, THINK BIG."

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SHANNON REAVES, CEO, BATH SAVVY NATURALS: In the bathroom is a lot of times the only time that a lot of people have to decompress.

Bath Savvy is a line of natural bath and body care products that we developed from scratch.

Selfcare is really our main focus.

My mama is very crafty. When we were little, she came up with her own recipes of the soaps and lotions.

Once I started working with her, something clicked to me that, OK, this has five or six ingredients. This stuff on the shelf has like 25 things in it. What is it?

So we have a line of bar soaps, and that evolved into a whipped body butter. Another shea butter blend that we call oil cream in the shower bomb with the aromatherapy.

[13:55:05]

We keep it simple. We keep it natural, plant-based.

We started selling it at small events and churches. But when the pandemic hit, our venue closed, so we had to pivot. We decided to go online with our business.

People were really seeking us out. And we did experience a lot of growth. We were able to secure a store front and workspace.

It does make me almost tear up when I look back at this little block of soap. We just developed it into something that people really appreciate on their self-care journey.

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