Johnny Depp told the court that his ex-wife Amber Heard was violent and abusive in their relationship, not he – describing how she once hurt him with a “circle blow” and exposing her side to the battle that led to his now disgraceful cut off finger.
Speaking on the sixth day of the defamation lawsuit against the actress, Depp told the jury that Hurd sometimes showed “pure hatred” for him and that disputes could “escalate” to the point that she became violent – slapping, pushing or “drinking”. . wine in my face “.
The actor said that his ex-partner has a “need for conflict” and “can’t be wrong” and often uses his children against him, calling him a “terrible father”.
During his testimony, Depp recounted how he cut off his finger during the couple’s trip to Australia in 2015 – something that has already happened several times during the trial – saying that Hurd “threw “One bottle to him and then threw another, causing the injury he described as ‘grotesque.’ The actress, who has not yet spoken, denies causing the injury.
Warning: This article contains a graphic image of Depp’s severed finger.
Image: Depp sues Hurd for $ 50 million defamation (£ 38.2 million), while Hurd sues for $ 100 million (£ 76.4 million)
Depp told the court that he was probably closest to a nervous breakdown after the tip of his finger was cut off during the dispute, telling in graphic detail how his hand remained looking “like Vesuvius” by shedding blood.
Key moments from Depp’s testimony – Day 6 of the trial
• Depp once again denied Hurd’s physical or sexual abuse during their relationship, saying the actress became violent and sparked controversy • The actor said he often locks himself in the bathroom to withdraw from escalating arguments • He said that his now infamous finger was caused by Hurd throwing a bottle at him – she is expected to refute this when she testified • A jury was shown a graphic picture of Depp’s severed finger in court • Any the result of the trial, the actor says he will carry Hurd’s claims for the rest of his life • Catch up on what has been said so far in our live report on the trial as it happens
Depp is suing Hurd for $ 50 million (£ 38.2 million) in defamation, while Hurd has filed a counterclaim for $ 100 million (£ 76.4 million).
The lawsuit, in which various allegations of drinking and drugs were observed, is related to a 2018 article written by Hurd in The Washington Post, which Depp’s lawyers claim falsely alleges that he physically and sexually raped her. .
Image: Depp showed his injured finger to the court
“It could start with throwing the TV remote in my head”
Giving evidence for the second day in a row, Depp said that over time, his marriage to Hurd has begun to make him feel “in a relationship” with his mother.
He said that at times Hurd seemed to have a “pure hatred” for him and that this often “escalated into violence” on her part. Asked what he meant by that, Depp said Hurd in her “frustration”, “rage” and “anger” sometimes “shoots”.
He said it could start with a slap or a bang, “it could start with throwing a TV remote in my head,” or “a glass of wine in my face.”
Depp said Hurd was involved in “high school teenage tactics” and that her “harassment” had become too much.
Depp says he has “never” hit a woman in his life
At one point during a hearing in Fairfax, Virginia, Depp was asked about the first alleged domestic violence incident Hurd said occurred in early 2013.
The actress claims that the alleged incident was caused by her laughter at Depp’s tattoo “Wino Forever” – known as changed from “Winona Forever” after his breakup with actress Winona Ryder in the 90s.
Depp told the court that “this did not happen”, repeating previous allegations that he had never hit Hurd and saying that “he had never hit a woman in his life”.
Image: The jurors showed a graphic photo of Depp’s cut finger
Cut finger: “I looked at my bone”
Speaking about the trip to Australia in 2015, which took place shortly after Depp and Hurd got married, the actor said it was “probably the closest I’ve ever been” to a nervous breakdown.
Hurd had previously claimed that Depp was abusive during the trip and described it as a “three-day hostage situation.”
Depp accused her of throwing a broken bottle at him. He said he “didn’t feel any pain” at first, but looked down and realized the tip of his finger had been cut off.
“I looked down and realized that the tip of my finger had been cut off and I was looking directly at my protruding bone and the fleshy part of the inside of your finger,” he told the jury.
“There was just bloodshed and … I don’t know what a nervous breakdown feels like, but it’s probably the closest I’ve ever been. Nothing made sense.
“I knew in my mind and in my heart that this is not life. No one has to go through this.”
The jury received a warning as they were shown a photo of Depp’s injured finger, which was introduced as evidence.
Depp told the court that in a state of shock he wrote “small reminders” of Hurd’s “lies” with blood on the walls of the property where they were staying.
He added that he later lied about the cause of the injury, telling hospital staff that he had “broken it in those big accordion doors”.
“I lied because I didn’t want to reveal … that it was Mrs. Hurd who threw a bottle of vodka at me and then took my finger off,” he said. “I didn’t want to get her in trouble.”
“She controlled my every waking second.”
Depp also told the court how Hurd’s allegations of ill-treatment had affected his life. When they were first made public, he said he felt “sick” watching the story gain “momentum around the world.” He said he should tell his children what to expect before being shown articles at school.
You notice that people “look at you differently” and calls from agents and producers stop, Depp told the court. “To say it’s unfair is the biggest underestimation … it controlled my every waking second.”
He went on to say that despite the fact that Hurd’s article in the Washington Post did not mention him by name, it was “obviously” about him and their relationship.
Asked what he had lost because of the accusations, he replied: “Nothing less than everything.”
He continued: “When the accusations were made, when the accusations quickly went around the globe, telling people that I was drunk, a cocaine-charged threat that was beating women – suddenly in my 50s – it was over.
Depp told the court that regardless of the outcome of this process, he will carry these allegations “until the end of my days.”
The actor’s cross-examination began in the last 30 minutes of Wednesday’s hearing and will continue on Thursday.
Add Comment