Amber Heard is wrapping up her evidence in Johnny Depp’s libel case against a British tabloid over allegations of domestic violence, further accusing her ex-husband of abusing her when he was high on drugs or was drunk.
Taking the witness box Thursday for a fourth straight day at the High Court in London, the actor reiterated allegations of abuse when Depp was on a “bender” that would often last days.
“Johnny, when he was clean and sober, could be a wonderful person, generous, loving,” she said. “He’s a remarkable man when he’s like that and I loved him. The other side of him was a monster but I always held out hope he would get clean and sober.”
American actress Amber Heard smiles at the media as she arrives at the High Court in London, Thursday, July 23, 2020. Actor Johnny Depp is suing News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and the paper's executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article that called him a "wife-beater." Depp strongly denies all allegations. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)
The initial focus Thursday centered on an alleged incident early on in their relationship in March 2013 revolving around a painting on the wall in Heard's apartment from her ex-wife Tasya van Ree. Depp is alleged to have asked for the painting to be taken down and that he got increasingly vexed about it after taking copious amounts of drugs and drink, eventually hitting Heard with the back of his hand that caused her blood to hit the wall.
The incident has been a point of confusion as Heard initially said it took place on March 8, 2013, but later said she couldn't be sure. In court on Thursday, she said the incident took place on the 22nd.
In her first three days of testimony, Heard, 34, has accused Depp of an array of acts of violence, including throwing bottles at her “like grenades,” headbutting her and even of stubbing out a cigarette on his cheek. She has claimed that she often feared for her life during their tempestuous relationship.
Depp, 57, is suing The Sun, specifically its publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, for labeling him in an April 2018 article as a “wife-beater.”
The Sun’s defense relies on 14 allegations made by Heard of violence by Depp between 2013 and 2016, in settings as varied as a rented house in Australia, his private island in the Bahamas and a private jet.
Depp denies abusing Heard and claims she was the aggressor during their tempestuous relationship. He has been present throughout the trial, which has now lasted nearly three weeks, but was not present Thursday.
Heard's sister, Whitney Henriquez, who previously lived in one of five penthouses owned by Depp in Los Angeles, is due to give evidence later Thursday.
During the first two weeks of case testimony at the High Court, judge Andrew Nicol heard from Depp and from several current or former employees who backed his version of events. In his testimony, Depp said he was the one being abused by Heard and that she had a history of being violent against him.
In written testimony released to the court, Heard said that at various times during her and Depp’s relationship she endured “punching, slapping, kicking, head-butting and choking.” She said some incidents were so severe she was “afraid he was going to kill me, either intentionally or just by losing control and going too far.” She said he blamed his actions on “a self-created third party” that he referred to as “the monster.”
Depp and Heard met on the set of the film “The Rum Diary,” released in 2011. They married in Los Angeles in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce the following year, and it was finalized in 2017.
The case is due to finish next week with closing submissions from both sides’ legal teams on Monday and Tuesday.