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Agence France-Presse

Johnny Depp’s blockbuster libel lawsuit wraps up Tuesday after three weeks of graphic testimony in which the star admitted to years of drug abuse but denied beating ex-wife Amber Heard.
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise hero is suing the publisher and executive editor of Britain’s The Sun tabloid in London’s High Court over a 2018 story calling him a “wife beater”.
The 57-year-old rejects accusations of repeatedly hurting the 34-year-old actress over a three-year span that ended with Heard’s 2016 decision to get a restraining order and file for divorce.
Here are five stand-out revelations from London’s High Court.
The severed finger
Depp released a graphic photo showing a severed fingertip that he claimed Heard caused by throwing a vodka bottle at him during a violent row.
His former estate manager said he found the 57-year-old actor’s fingertip shortly after the fight, which took place while the couple were staying in Australia.
Heard claimed Depp injured his fingertip, which was later reattached, when he smashed a telephone into the wall during the row.
Depp admitted writing a message to Heard on the wall and floor with flowing blood, and then dipping his finger into a can of paint to continue writing when the bleeding stopped.
He admitted being drunk and on drugs at the time.

Drugs and alcohol
Court testimony reinforced Depp’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s wild men, with several witnesses testifying to binges on drink and drugs.
Heard showed the court a photograph of a pint of whisky, four lines of cocaine and her ex-husband’s skull and crossbones “pill box”.
Depp claimed Heard was an enabler, despite his well-documented battles with addiction.
She “poured me the whisky and cocaine was visible in front of her, and I have experienced many times with Ms Heard that she would in fact chop the cocaine up for me so that I could do the line and then she would press her finger into it and ingest it orally,” he alleged.
Heard denied the claims.
The court was also shown a photo of Depp apparently passed out on the floor. The actor said he began using cocaine to help break his addiction to powerful prescription painkillers.
Johnny Depp talks drugs, spending US$5 million on a rocket for ashes

Whodunnit?
One of the most surprising aspects of the case was a photograph of faeces in the couple’s bed after the couple had another huge fight on the night of Heard’s 30th birthday party in April 2016.
Depp said it was left their as a sick joke by either Heard or one of her friends.
It was discovered by the couple’s maid. Depp admitted laughing about it when a friend texted him photos of the faeces with the inscription “Amber Turd”.
Depp said he knew then that his marriage was effectively finished.
Heard blamed the incident on the couple’s dog, which Depp said was “physically impossible” because the turd was too large.
Heard filed for divorce in May 2016, obtaining a temporary restraining order against Depp. The divorce was settled in January 2017.

Violence
Heard alleged Depp headbutted her the night before she appeared on James Corden’s The Late Late Show in 2015, and he subjected her to “punching, slapping, kicking, headbutting and choking”.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star also “explicitly threatened to kill me many times,” Heard alleged in written testimony.
Video of Amber Heard’s sister shows actress ‘beat’ her
Depp strongly denied hitting her or any woman, and submitted counter-evidence claiming she physically abused him during the marriage, including hitting him with a “haymaker” punch.
His former partners, the French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis, and Hollywood star Winona Ryder, both submitted statements defending him, saying he was kind and non-violent.
Infidelity claims
Heard denied Depp’s claims that she had affairs with the Hollywood actor James Franco, and the billionaire Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
She dismissed suggestions that Musk visited her regularly at night from March 2015, not long after the couple wed.
“I wasn’t even in communication with Elon until 2016,” she told London’s High Court.
Depp admitted to piques of jealousy, which Heard said fuelled many of their fights.



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Fame and celebrity

Five stand-out revelations from Johnny Depp’s blockbuster libel trial

A bitter London court libel battle over newspaper claims that he beat his ex-wife Amber Heard laid bare Johnny Depp’s turbulent private life. Photo: AP

This handout photo provided by London High Court shows a photo used in evidence of Amber Heard with marks on her face that she says were inflicted by Johnny Depp, in May 2016. Johnny Depp is suing News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and the paper’s executive editor over an April 2018 article that called the actor a “wife-beater.” He strongly denies abusing Heard. (London High Court via AP)

An undated photograph of a man alleged to be actor Johnny Depp lying on a stretcher, that was presented as evidence in an ongoing court case on July 8, 2020 at the High Court in London, Britain. High Court handouts via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

This is an undated photo used in evidence during the High Court case of actor Johnny Depp, on Monday, July 13, 2020. Depp is expected to wrap up his evidence at his libel trial against a tabloid newspaper that accused him of abusing ex-wife Amber Heard. The Hollywood star 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.” (PA via AP)

Video of Amber Heard’s sister shows actress ‘beat’ her, Johnny Depp trial hears in last-minute submission

US actress Amber Heard (left) leaves hand in hand with her sister Whitney Heard from the High Court. Photo: AFP

US actor Johnny Depp (C) gestures holding a bunch of flowers as he leaves after a hearing in his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court in London, on July 24, 2020. - Depp is suing the publishers of The Sun and the author of the article for the claims that called him a "wife-beater" in April 2018. Johnny Depp's legal team played an anonymous tipster's video at his libel trial Friday aimed at proving ex-wife Amber Heard had a violent streak and once beat up her sister. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP)

epa08563811 US actress Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, 24 July 2020. US actor Johnny Depp is suing The Sun's newspaper publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) over claims he abused his ex-wife Amber Heard. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER

Johnny Depp talks drugs, spending US$5 million on a rocket for ashes, and how he gave his bank robber roommate scabies

Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp has opened up about his financial struggles in a bizarre interview with Rolling Stone. Photo: AP

Actor Johnny Depp arrives for the world premiere of Disney movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" in Shanghai on May 11, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Johannes EISELE

Workers put the finishing touches on a memorial to "gonzo" journalist Hunter S. Thompson near his home at the Owl Farm in Woody Creek, Colo., on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005. Family and friends are to gather at the site Saturday night to pay tribute to Thompson. His ashes are to be spread by a fireworks projectile during the event. Thompson shot himself to death six months ago on Feb. 20 at age 67. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Hunter S. Thompson, a renegade journalist whose “gonzo” style threw out any pretense at objectivity and established the hard-living writer as a counter-culture icon, fatally shot himself at his Colorado home late February 20, 2005, police said. He was 67. Thompson's son, Juan, released a statement saying he had found his father dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the writer's Owl Creek farm near Aspen. Thompson is pictured entering a New York television studio for an interview in this June 10, 1997 file photo. (B&W ONLY) REUTERS/Christian Thompson/Files

Amber Heard testifies she was afraid ex-husband Johnny Depp was going to kill her

Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London on Monday to start giving evidence as part of her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s libel case against The Sun newspaper over allegations of domestic violence during the couple's relationship. Photo: AP

epa08556041 US actor Johnny Depp arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, 20 July 2020. Depp is suing The Sun's newspaper publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) over claims he abused his ex-wife, US actress Amber Heard. EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL

In this court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook, actress Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London, Monday July 20, 2020. Amber Heard has begun giving testimony at Britain’s High Court against ex-husband Johnny Depp, who she has accused of abusing her both physically and verbally during their tempestuous relationship. Depp, 57, is suing News Group Newspapers, publisher of the Sun, and the paper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the court in London over an April 2018 article that called him a “wife-beater.” The Hollywood star strongly denies abusing Heard. (Elizabeth Cook via PA via AP)

Amber Heard files for divorce from Johnny Depp after just 15 months of marriage

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp arrive at the premiere of Depp's film “Black Mass” last year. The couple filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. Photo: AP

Amber Heard accuses ex-husband Johnny Depp of throwing bottles like ‘grenades’

Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London. Photo: Reuters

epaselect epa08559975 US actor Johnny Depp arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, 22 July 2020. Johnny Depp is suing The Sun's newspaper publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) over claims he abused his ex-wife Amber Heard. EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL

An undated photograph showing graffiti done with Johnny Depp's severed finger that was presented as evidence in an ongoing court case on July 9, 2020 at the High Court in London, Britain. High Court handouts via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

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Johnny Depp is suing a British tabloid over a 2018 article that called him a ‘wife beater’
Bitter London court battle lays bare the 57-year-old’s turbulent private life involving rows, drink and drugs



Johnny Depp’s libel lawsuit wraps up Tuesday after three weeks of graphic testimony in which the star admitted to years of drug abuse but denied beating ex-wife Amber Heard.


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