Amber Heard accused Johnny Depp of ripping off her shirt and trying to strangle her with it during a row on their honeymoon, a court heard today.
Depp, 57, is suing News Group Newspapers for libel over a story published in The Sun in 2018 which branded him a “wife beater” – a claim which he strenuously denies.
The case continued at London’s High Court today with closing arguments, with the trial set to conclude tomorrow and a ruling slated for October.
In her closing statements, Sasha Wass, QC, for NGN reexamined the former couple’s honeymoon onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express in Malaysia in August 2015.
She told the court that in her diary Heard gave a “graphic description of Mr Depp trying to strangle her with her own shirt” during a row on the train.
Heard claimed he “hit her around the face, tried to choke her and tore off her T-shirt, pushed her against a wall by the throat causing her to fear for her life”.
Ms Wass said Depp later admitted in a taped conversation, a transcript of which was read out in court, they had a “fight on the train which was physical”.
She told the court on another occasion Depp admitted: “I know, I freak out,” and she added: “That’s exactly what this case is about, Mr Depp freaking out after taking drugs and two much alcohol.”
Depp previously denied being violent towards Heard during their trip on the train.
Ms Wass went back to the row between the pair on December 15 2015.
The court heard Heard alleged Depp threw a decanter at her, slapped her, dragged her through the apartment by her hair pulling “large chunk” from her scalp and then followed her upstairs and headbutted her.
The next day she appeared on The Late Late Show With James Corden. Ms Wass said Heard did not tell her publicist she had been assaulted by her husband.
If it was an “elaborate hoax'” why would she not tell her the truth?, asked Ms Wass
Heard’s pal Raquel Pennington said she could see Heard’s head was “bloody” and “chunks of her hair had been torn out”.
Pennington said that was the “most serious injury” she could see that night.
Depp previously admitted heatbutting Heard during the row on December 15, but insisted it was an accident. He denied being violent towards her.
Today, Ms Wass for NGN revisited much of the evidence that had been given throughout the trial.
She claimed Depp’s claim that Heard was abusive to him could not be true as the actress weighs only eight stone and ” lacked the physical capability ” to attack the actor, who she called a “hopeless addict”.
Ms Wass claimed Depp’s jealousy, addictions and misogyny led to “violent explosions” that were followed by “embarrassment” and “apologies”.
She also went over the couple’s 2015 row in Australia, in which Depp’s finger was severed and he used the stump to scrawl messages in his own blood.
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Ms Wass told the court Depp was “deranged” and “out of his mind” during the incident.
The court was read an email written by Heard to Depp back in 2103 but but never sent
In the note, claimed she was Heard was sick of cleaning up Depp’s “s**t, vomit and p**s” after his benders.
During the trial Depp denied he’d ever been violent towards his ex-wife and claimed she’d been abusive towards him during their relationship.
Lawyers for NGN are defending their case based on Heard’s 14 allegations of abuse, which include claims of bust-ups between 2013 and 2016.
The trial is set to conclude tomorrow, although no ruling is expected until October.
If Depp is successful in his claim, the judge will have to decide what level of compensation he should receive.
General damages in libel cases are capped at £300,000 to £325,000.