By AFP
WASHINGTON: Actor Johnny Depp was grilled about his drug and alcohol use and coarse textual content messages as he took the witness stand on Thursday for a 3rd day at his defamation case towards his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn spent greater than 5 hours looking for to undermine the credibility of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star earlier than the seven-person jury listening to the swimsuit in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
The 58-year-old Depp was requested about his trashing of lodge rooms and the circumstances of an incident in Australia wherein the tip of the center finger on his proper hand was severed.
Depp testified Wednesday that it was brought on by a livid Heard throwing a vodka bottle at him. Her lawyer informed the jury that Depp had informed docs he lower himself with a knife.
Depp acknowledged throughout cross-examination that after his finger was lower he used the wounded digit to scrawl messages round the home utilizing his personal blood and paint.
Heard’s attorneys performed a video at one level of Depp slamming cabinet doorways of their kitchen and pouring himself a big glass of crimson wine.
“I did assault a couple of cabinets but I did not touch Miss Heard,” Depp stated when requested in regards to the video.
In an audiotape performed by her lawyer of a dialog between Depp and Heard, she complains about having bruises on her head, a cut up lip and a black eye.
Heard’s attorneys have claimed Depp would turn out to be a “monster” throughout drug- and alcohol-fueled benders and bodily and sexually abuse Heard.
Depp has denied the allegations and claimed it was Heard who was incessantly violent throughout their relationship.
Depp filed a defamation swimsuit towards Heard over a column she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018 wherein she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
Heard, who starred within the film “Aquaman,” by no means named Depp — however he sued her for implying he was a home abuser and is looking for $50 million in damages.
The Texas-born Heard, who turns 36 on Friday, countersued, asking for $100 million and claiming she suffered “rampant physical violence and abuse” at his palms.
Depp and Heard met in 2009 on the set of the movie “The Rum Diary” and had been married in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized two years later.
‘Shame and remorse’
Rottenborn probed Depp extensively about his drug and alcohol use, together with partaking with shock rocker Marilyn Manson.
“We drank together. We’ve had cocaine together maybe a couple of times,” Depp stated. “I once gave Marilyn Manson a pill so that he would stop talking so much.”
Depp acknowledged utilizing medication and alcohol to “numb the residual pain from my youth,” however denied Rottenborn’s suggestion it was to extra or that he would ever “black out.”
Rottenborn learn textual content messages from Depp to numerous folks wherein he apologized for his conduct and sought the recommendation of Elton John on get clear.
“Once again I find myself in a place of shame and regret,” he stated in a May 25, 2014 textual content to Heard. “I will never do it again. I want to get better for you.”
Depp admitted that he has taken out his anger on objects previously however denied ever placing Heard.
“I don’t believe I’m the only human being who has ever punched a door,” he stated. “I have assaulted a couch or two.”
Heard’s attorneys launched textual content messages wherein Depp used profane language about her, calling her an “idiot cow” and speaking about her “rotting corpse.”
“Let’s burn Amber,” he stated in a textual content message to the actor Paul Bettany, a buddy. “Let’s drown her before we burn her.”
In a textual content to Heard’s sister, Depp stated “I never want to lay eyes on that filthy whore Amber.”
Depp was additionally requested a few “heated argument” he had with Heard over his suspicion that she was having an affair with the actor James Franco.
Testifying on Wednesday, the thrice Oscar-nominated Depp stated the allegations that he was a “drunken, cocaine-fueled menace who beat women” have price him “everything.”
The actor stated {that a} “couple of days” after the Post column appeared, Disney introduced he would now not seem as Captain Jack Sparrow within the blockbuster “Pirates” franchise.
Depp filed the defamation grievance within the United States after dropping a separate libel case in London in November 2020 that he introduced towards The Sun for calling him a “wife-beater.”