Johnny Depp's personal assistant branded Amber Heard a 'sociopathic show pony' and 'Machiavellian overlord' who was the real abuser in their relationship - and pointed out that she had been arrested for domestic violence in 2009 after a screaming row with her girlfriend, a court heard today.
Heard allegedly grabbed Tasya van Ree's arm in 2009 during a row before being booked for misdemeanor domestic violence.
A text from Depp's former personal assistant Stephen Deuters read out in court referred to a former neighbour of Ms Heard and her ex-partner hearing 'screaming fights which were so loud, vivacious and frequent that it was a real problem being their neighbour'.
In one message to a friend, he said: 'I'll have you know it's on public record that Amber Heard has been arrested for domestic violence before.'
The court also heard today that Heard photographed Johnny Depp with ice cream spilled on his legs during a private flight before showing it to him the next day and saying: 'Look at what you've become... look at you, it's pathetic'.
Heard, 34, and her ex-husband Depp, 57, had been on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles in May 2014, where the Pirates of the Caribbean actor is alleged to have been drinking heavily and consuming a cocktail of drugs.
Meanwhile, Mr Deuters claimed today that Heard was the 'abuser' in her relationship with the actor, and said he had never seen her with any injuries.
Mr Deuters sent texts calling Heard a 'sociopathic show pony, Machiavellian overlord, talentless c***' after she filed for divorce. He alleged that Heard subjected Depp to 'years' of physical and emotional abuse, and said he was 'extremely surprised and outraged' when it became public that she had filed for a temporary restraining order.
The former assistant, who is now European president of Mr Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, said in his written witness statement that he did not see any injuries on Heard or hear her mention about being the victim of abuse.
Mr Deuters spoke after Depp finished giving 25 hours of evidence in London as his blockbuster libel case continues over allegations of domestic violence by Heard. The actor is suing The Sun publisher News Group Newspapers and its executive editor Dan Wootton over an article in April 2018 which labelled him a 'wife beater'.
Depp, who spoke about the picture of him with ice cream spilled on his legs, claimed he had been working 17-hour days at the time and had already agreed he was going to go to the Bahamas to detox.
He said: 'I was obviously on the nod and very tired, falling asleep, and the ice cream then spilled all over my leg and then she took that ... and showed me the next day and said 'Look at what you've become ... look at you, it's pathetic'.'
Heard claimed that during the flight Depp had been drinking heavily and threw objects at her, pushed a chair at her, slapped her and kicked her in the back before passing out in the toilet.
Depp claimed Heard 'began to harangue him' as he was sketching in a notebook, he then tried to 'playfully tap her on the bottom with his foot', at which Heard took 'great offence' and 'continued to verbally berate' him.
The Royal Courts of Justice in London also heard today:
- Depp was asked if he 'invented' his version of events that he accidentally headbutted Heard;
- A nurse's notes revealed Heard was 'dishevelled' and had 'visible bright red blood' on her lip;
- Heard's father David sent Depp a text message saying he knew his daughter needed help;
- Depp said smoking cannabis is a 'calming agent' for him and wouldn't put him in a rage;
- Heard told a nurse she was angry with Depp because he was late to her party.
Johnny Depp (right) and Amber Heard (left) are pictured this afternoon outside the High Court in London as the Hollywood actor's blockbuster libel case over allegations of domestic violence continues
Heard was allegedly arrested for domestic violence against her then girlfriend Tasya Van Ree in 2009. She allegedly grabbed van Ree's arm during a row before being booked for misdemeanor domestic violence
Amber Heard photographed Johnny Depp with ice cream spilled on his legs during a private flight from Boston to Los Angeles in May 2014 before showing it to him the next day and saying: 'Look at what you've become', a court heard today.
Depp's former personal assistant Stephen Deuters (pictured together in a file image) claimed today that Heard was the 'abuser' in her relationship with the actor, and said he had never seen her with any injuries
Today, Depp accused Heard of 'haymakering' him after her 30th birthday party when they met in a hotel three months later - shortly after she had obtained a restraining order against him.
Depp - who made the accusation against Heard in a secret recording revealed in court today - said the fight followed her 30th birthday party in April 2016, which he attended after a 'bad meeting' with a new business manager who revealed he had lost $650million after it was 'stolen' by his previous managers.
He claimed Heard had been 'drinking heavily' and attacked him while he was reading in bed, punching him in the face four times before he grabbed her arms to stop her. The secret recording in which he discussed the alleged attack was made without Depp's knowledge when he met her in a San Francisco hotel room in July 2016.
Depp also admitted today that his forehead 'may have clashed' with Heard's when he was trying to 'grab her arms' to stop her hitting him - but denied intending to headbutt her. He also said he could not have grabbed Heard by the head and punched her in the face because he was wearing a cast with a 'little dinosaur' on his broken finger.
The former couple were both photographed arriving at court separately this morning, while Heard was also seen leaving Ham Yard Hotel in Soho.
Depp is said to have attacked Heard throughout their tempestuous relationship, which has been described as 'a crime scene waiting to happen', and put her in fear for her life - claims he says are 'a choreographed hoax'.
Meanwhile Depp's former fiancée Winona Ryder, who starred with him in the 1991 film Edward Scissorhands, is set to tell the court via videolink later this week that he was never abusive or violent to her.
Amber Heard was arrested for domestic violence against her then-girlfriend in 2009, court hears
Depp's former personal assistant Stephen Deuters claimed that Heard was the 'abuser' in her relationship with the actor, and said he had never seen her with any injuries.
Mr Deuters sent texts calling Heard a 'sociopathic show pony, Machiavellian overlord, talentless c***' after she filed for divorce.
In one message to a friend, he said: 'I'll have you know it's on public record that Amber Heard has been arrested for domestic violence before.'
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Heard was allegedly arrested for domestic violence against her then girlfriend Tasya Van Ree in 2009. She allegedly grabbed van Ree's arm during a row before being booked for misdemeanor domestic violence.
A text from Mr Deuters read out in court referred to a former neighbour of Ms Heard and her ex-partner hearing 'screaming fights which were so loud, vivacious and frequent that it was a real problem being their neighbour'.
Mr Deuters alleged that Heard subjected Depp to 'years' of physical and emotional abuse, and said he was 'extremely surprised and outraged' when it became public that she had filed for a temporary restraining order.
The former assistant, who is now European president of Mr Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, said in his written witness statement that he did not see any injuries on Heard or hear her mention about being the victim of abuse.
Depp's former personal assistant was 'regarded almost as family'
Depp's former personal assistant Mr Deuters was called to give evidence today after Depp finished. Mr Deuters said he has worked for Depp for 16 years, since June 2004.
Sasha Wass QC, for NGN, asked: 'At the time of his relationship with Amber Heard, you were fulfilling the role of his personal assistant? And you were dealing with his needs, professional and personal?' Mr Deuters replied: 'Yes.'
Ms Wass continued: 'Do you agree that you were more than an employee, you were a friend?' Mr Deuters said: 'Yes, I suppose so.' The barrister then asked if Mr Deuters was 'regarded almost as family', to which he said he was.
Ms Wass put it to Mr Deuters that his 'loyalty to him (Depp) has been rewarded because you are now the European president of his production company'. The former personal assistant replied: 'Well, I got promoted to that position, yes.'
The barrister suggested: 'You are financially dependent on Mr Depp for your income. And you are dependent on the Johnny Depp brand for your future income.'
Mr Deuters agreed that was the case. Ms Wass continued: 'And if Mr Depp or the brand is damaged professionally, you in turn are damaged financially.' Mr Deuters said: 'Yes.'
Depp's former PA denies buying illegal drugs for the star
Ms Wass then asked if 'one of your duties as personal assistant to Mr Depp over the years has been to assist him in obtaining controlled drugs'.
She added: 'I am suggesting that you involved yourself in obtaining controlled drugs, illegal drugs, for Mr Depp over the period when you were his personal assistant.' Mr Deuters replied: 'No, I didn't purchase drugs.'
Asked if he had ever been 'involved in the arrangements' for obtaining illegal drugs for Depp, Mr Deuters said that he had but it would be a 'very rare occurrence'.
Ms Wass QC continued: 'You did so knowing full well, I presume, that the supply or being involved in the supply of controlled drugs is against the law?' Mr Deuters replied: 'Yes.'
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