Amber Heard ‘invented violence claims’, Johnny Depp libel trial told
Johnny Depp “is not and never has been a wife beater” and ex-wife Amber Heard’s allegations of violence are “complete lies”, his lawyers have told the High Court.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor, 57, is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and the tabloid’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over a 2018 article which called him a “wife beater” and referred to “overwhelming evidence” that he attacked Heard, 34, during their relationship.
Depp strenuously denies the claims and his legal team alleges it was Heard who was violent towards him.
The Hollywood star’s lawyers have said his libel action against The Sun is “not a case about money” but about “vindication” and “clearing his reputation”.
His barrister, David Sherborne, argued Heard “invented these stories of serious violence” and that she was the “abuser” in the relationship.
Depp’s lawyers will attempt to prove The Sun’s allegations are untrue and defamatory, and are expected to argue that the newspaper’s coverage has cost him lucrative film roles.
However, lawyers for NGN have told the court the description of Depp as a “wife beater” is “entirely accurate and truthful”.
They argued a raft of evidence, including photos, audio recordings and the Hollywood star’s own text messages, supports the defence that Depp “beat his wife Amber Heard, causing her to suffer significant injury and on occasion leading to her fearing for her life”.
Depp’s former girlfriends Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder are expected to give evidence as witnesses via video link. Both have already claimed Depp was “never violent” towards them in previous statements.
The Sun is relying on 14 separate allegations of domestic violence from between 2013 and 2016 in its defence.
Mr Sherborne said it is Depp’s case that he “did not attack Ms Heard on these occasions or at all”.
“Indeed, he says that it was Ms Heard who was the one who started physical fights, who punched or hit him (and there was little he could really do to stop this); she was the abuser, not him. And the contemporaneous evidence fully supports that, as the court will hear,” he said.
He added: “It will come as no surprise to hear that this is not a case about money. It is about vindication. Mr Depp has made that clear at various hearings.
“That is why he has come here – to clear his reputation.”
Emily Cox, a partner at Stewarts law firm and an expert in defamation cases, told The Guardian: “This is a critical case for Depp as his entire career is at risk, as well as his personal reputation and standing among his adoring fans across the globe…
“The stakes for Depp are high: Hollywood has ignored and sanctioned some despicable behaviour by celebrities in the past, but a new wind is blowing through Tinseltown as well as society as a whole. It is likely to be crucial for Depp that he clears his name.”
Depp and Heard met in 2011 on the set of the comedy The Rum Diary and married in Los Angeles in 2015. One year later, Heard obtained a restraining order against Depp after accusing him of domestic violence, which he denied.
The couple settled their divorce out of court in 2017, with Heard donating her $7m (£5.5m) settlement to charity. Depp’s lawyers have claimed Heard had “two extra-marital affairs” with Tesla billionaire Elon Musk and actor James Franco during their relationship.
The trial continues.
Additional reporting by PA
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