Amber Heard feared she would ‘literally not survive’ relationship with Johnny Depp.
Amber Heard feared she would “literally not survive” her relationship with Johnny Depp as violent episodes between the couple became more normal, a court heard.
Urors heard evidence of more incidents of violence between the couple as Ms Heard continued her evidence on Monday, including an alleged “prank” in which faeces was left on a bed at one of Mr Depp’s properties.
Mr Depp is suing the Aquaman star for defamation over a 2018 article she wrote in the Washington Post that his attorneys wrongly say physically and sexually abused her when they were together.
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The jury heard evidence of more incidents of violence between the couple as Ms Heard continued her evidence Monday (Steve Helber/AP)
He has denied all allegations.
When asked about her decision to file for divorce from Mr Depp in May 2016, Ms Heard replied: “I knew if I didn’t I probably wouldn’t literally survive.
“I was so scared it was going to end really badly for me and I really didn’t want to leave him, I loved him so much.
“I would have done anything but I couldn’t do this one thing, I couldn’t stay.”
She continued, “The promise and hope that I had became less and less regular and less and less frequent.
“The monster was now what was normal and not the exception. The violence was now normal and not exceptional.
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“It was so hard, but I knew I had to do it … what if he’d taken it too far if I wasn’t here.”
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Ms Heard denied involvement in an alleged fecal “prank” that resulted in Mr Depp becoming angry and physically violent (Steve Helber/AP).
The actress also told the court how she was desperate for a “good night’s sleep” and repeatedly asked members of Mr Depp’s security team not to let him into the property while she was there overnight.
She said her anxiety caused her to lose hair and weight and have regular panic attacks.
Ms Heard also denied involvement in an alleged fecal “prank” that resulted in Mr Depp becoming angry and physically violent.
She said the actor “went delusional” when asked about the incident, which happened in April 2016, just after her 30th birthday.
The court heard Mr Depp discovered feces on a bed at one of his Los Angeles properties and called Ms Heard about the matter.
“I don’t find that funny, I don’t know what a grown woman does. I wasn’t in a prank mood either,” Ms. Heard said.
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The jury was shown photos from the red carpet in which Ms Heard appeared to have marks on her arms which she believed were scars caused by Mr Depp (Steve Helber/AP).
“My life collapsed.
“I was at a crossroads in my life. I had just been attacked on my 30th birthday by my abusive husband who I was madly in love with and had to leave.
“It wasn’t really a happy time and I don’t find that funny. Period. That’s disgusting.”
The court heard a suggestion that the faeces came from Mr Depp’s Yorkshire terrier, Boo, who was having “gut control issues” after ingesting some of the actor’s marijuana as a puppy.
Ms Heard said that after Mr Depp personally confronted her about the incident, she verbally abused and became physical, leading to her friend Raquel Pennington stepping in between her and the actor’s security guards.
She added that as he left the flat, Mr Depp took a bottle and smashed several objects, and that police were called.
Concluding her direct evidence, Ms Heard said violence had become “almost normal” towards the end of their relationship and described other alleged cases.
The jury was shown red carpet photos in which Ms Heard appeared to have marks on her arms which she believed were scars caused by Mr Depp.
Audio recordings were also played, in which verbal altercations between the couple could be heard.
Mr Depp has refused to make eye contact with Ms Heard during the three days she has testified.
Long lines continued to form outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Virginia, and some members of the public had queued overnight to get into the courtroom to watch the proceedings.
Mr Depp has already presented evidence and underwent cross-examination, alleging he was a victim of domestic violence during the relationship.
The process goes on.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/amber-heard-feared-she-would-literally-not-survive-johnny-depp-relationship-41655621.html Amber Heard feared she would ‘literally not survive’ relationship with Johnny Depp.