At Libel Trial, Johnny Depp Blasts Amber Heard’s ‘Sick’ Abuse Claim

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” superstar strongly denies Heard’s claims that he assaulted her all over their tempestuous marriage, and is suing The Solar’s writer, Information Crew Newspapers, and its govt editor, Dan Wootton.

“Those unwell claims are completely unfaithful,” Depp stated in a written witness observation, including that Heard’s allegations harm his occupation and had “been a continuing factor in my casting.”

A 3-week trial over his libel claims opened Tuesday on the Top Courtroom in London. It is without doubt one of the first primary instances to be held in particular person since Britain started to boost its coronavirus lockdown.

Depp entered the witness field of the wood-paneled court docket dressed in a depressing go well with and tie, and started by way of taking the court docket oath and giving his complete title: John Christopher Depp II.

He instructed the court docket that Heard had “stated to the arena that she was once in worry of her lifestyles from me, and I were this terrible monster, if you’ll. Which was once no longer the case.”

Depp, 57, and Heard, 34, met at the set of the 2011 comedy “The Rum Diary” and married in Los Angeles in February 2015. They divorced in 2017, and now bitterly accuse one any other of abuse.

Depp and Heard arrived by way of separate entrances on the neo-Gothic court docket construction. Each wore face coverings over their noses and mouths as they arrived. Lawsuits were unfold over a number of courtrooms to permit for social distancing.

Whilst Heard isn’t on trial, the case may be a showdown between the previous spouses, who accuse every different of being controlling, violent and deceitful. It’s set to place the 2 performers’ complicated non-public lives beneath a microscope.

The Solar’s protection depends on Heard’s allegations of 14 incidents of violence by way of Depp between 2013 and 2016, in places together with Los Angeles, Australia, Japan, the Bahamas and a chartered jet. He denies all of them and says Heard, an actress and style, attacked him with pieces together with a drink can and a cigarette. He additionally claims that on one instance Heard or considered one of her pals defecated on his mattress.

In written witness statements, Depp stated that during Australia in 2015 Heard severed the top of his finger by way of hurling a vodka bottle at him. A photograph of the bloody digit was once integrated together with his witness observation.

Depp claimed that on any other instance, Heard time and again punched him within the face on a personal jet, forcing him to spend the flight locked within the airplane’s toilet.

“Rage-filled violent incidents on planes had been not unusual with Amber,” he stated within the written observation.

Describing one incident wherein Heard claims he hit her, Depp stated the other was once true.

“As issues tended to do, (it) escalated and were given bodily, finishing with a bit of of attack. Ms. Heard struck me,” he stated.

He painted himself as a peacemaker who attempted to take away himself from conflicts “ahead of issues were given out of hand.”

In a written observation, Depp alleged that Heard was once “a calculating, identified borderline persona; she is sociopathic; she is a narcissist; and she or he is totally emotionally cheating.”

Heard alleges that Depp was once vulnerable to drink- and drug-fueled violent rages.

Beneath cross-examination by way of The Solar’s legal professional, Sasha Wass, Depp said taking myriad medication over time, together with marijuana, cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms and prescription painkillers.

He stated his drug use started when he was once an 11-year-old kid with “no longer a in particular solid or safe or protected house lifestyles.” He stated it was once “the one method that I discovered to numb the ache.”

Depp said that he had struggled with repute, pronouncing it intended he was once “pressured to are living the lifetime of a fugitive.”

“Anonymity doesn’t exist anymore … You will have develop into a product,” he stated.

Wass depicted Depp as somebody with an anger control drawback, citing an 1989 arrest for attack and a later incident wherein he broken a New York lodge room.

“I used to be indignant, however that doesn’t imply I’ve an anger drawback,” Depp stated.

Wass performed the court docket a video clip recorded by way of Heard that displays Depp kicking kitchen cabinets and swearing ahead of pouring pink wine from a big bottle.

Whilst pronouncing he “wasn’t in particular happy with myself” over the video, Depp denied that it confirmed he was a “monster” when he drank and took medication.

“It’s no longer Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” he stated.

Heard is because of give proof later within the trial. Depp’s legal professional, David Sherborne, stated Heard had not too long ago requested that one allegation be heard in non-public “as a result of its supposedly horrific nature.”

Witnesses for Depp are scheduled to incorporate his former companions Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder.

Depp may be suing Heard in the US for $50 million for allegedly defaming him in a Washington Put up article about home abuse. That case is because of be heard subsequent 12 months.

Sherborne stated in a gap observation that the actor had sued The Solar to “transparent his recognition.”

“This isn’t a case about cash,” he stated. “It’s about vindication.”