Amber Heard weighs just eight stone and lacked the “physical capability” to attack her “misogynist” ex-husband Johnny Depp, a court has heard.
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 before a ruling in made in October.
Heard, 34, is back at court today, while Depp will not be making another appearance until tomorrow.
Sasha Wass, QC, for NGN, kicked off her closing statements by telling that court that Depp is a “hopeless addict who repeatedly lost control”.
She went on to tell the court that Depp took “limited responsibility” for his behaviour insisting that he “does kick and punch property but does not kick and punch people”.
Ms Wass said it was only a “small step” to transfer that anger to people.
She added: “Any distinction between hitting an object and hitting a person are meaningless… he was so intoxicated he would not have known what he was doing.”
Ms Wass went on to address his claims that Heard was the aggressor in the relationship, insisting that Heard at eight stone (115lb) was physically unable to attack him or fight him off.
She told the court: “Ms Heard lacked the physical capability to be the successful party in any fight…”
She added that it would be ridiculous to say that at just “115lb [Heard] would be able to beat Mr Depp up”.
The court then heard Ms Wass claim Depp tried to portray himself as “a Southern gentlemen,” adding: “Far from treating women with respect, the root of his behaviour was a deep misogyny”.
She made reference to text messages previously read out in court in which he called women “whores and sluts” while also referred to his former partner Vanessa Paradis, as “a withering c***”.
The actor previously insisted it was just a joke between the couple.
She told the court Depp became annoyed and “enflamed” by Heard’s criticisms and he created a “misogynistic persona of her as the stereotype of a nagging woman”.
The court heard texts between him and actor pal Paul Bettany threatening to burn Heard displayed his attitude.
“Alcohol and narcotics brought out the monster in Mr Depp’ in the form of ‘violent explosions’,” Ms Wass said and were followed by “embarrassment” and “apologies”.
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 immediately.
If Depp is successful in his claim, the judge will have to decide what level of compensation he should receive.