Johnny Depp Denies Slapping Amber Heard Over Winona Ryder Tattoo – Deadline

(Press Affiliation) Johnny Depp has denied slapping his ex-wife Amber Heard after she laughed at his “Wino Without end” tattoo, as he confronted additional questioning on the second day of high-profile libel motion in opposition to The Solar newspaper.

The Hollywood actor rejected recommendations he slapped Heard 3 times throughout a time when he had “fallen off the wagon” after she made a joke of the etching on his arm – saying “that’s not true, you’re mistaken.” The 57-year-old was requested in regards to the alleged incident as he re-entered the witness field to offer proof in his declare.

Depp is suing the tabloid’s writer, Information Group Newspapers (NGN), and its govt editor, Dan Wootton, over the 2018 article, which labelled him a “wife-beater” and referred to “overwhelming proof” that he attacked Heard, 34, throughout their relationship – which he strenuously denies.

Sasha Wass QC, for NGN, requested Depp in regards to the alleged incident in March 2013, which Depp agreed was at a time when he had “fallen off the wagon” following about 160 days of sobriety. It concerned a tattoo the actor had performed on his arm throughout his relationship with actress Winona Ryder, which learn “Winona Without end” and which he had modified to “Wino Without end” after they break up.

Wass put it to Depp that he had slapped Heard 3 times after she laughed on the tattoo throughout a interval the place he was ingesting closely.

She mentioned: “Do you settle for that Ms Heard was making a joke out of your tattoo, ‘Wino Without end’?”

Depp replied: “I don’t recall any dialog.”

Sasha Wass QC continued: “I recommend that that provoked disappointment, firstly, in you, after which anger in you, however you don’t bear in mind.”

Depp replied: “I don’t recall any argument about any of my tattoos.”

Wass mentioned: “You then, Mr Depp, slapped Ms Heard throughout the face.”

The actor responded: “That’s not right, it’s unfaithful. It didn’t occur.”

Wass mentioned: “You slapped her greater than as soon as, as a result of after you slapped her the primary time, she didn’t react, she simply eyeballed you, she simply stared at you, and that made you extra offended and also you slapped her once more.”

Depp answered: “That’s patently unfaithful.”

Wass then put it to the actor that he slapped his former spouse 3 times in complete in the course of the incident, to which he replied: “I’m sorry however that’s not true, you’re mistaken.”

The barrister then put it to Depp that he “broke down” after coming to his senses and realizing what he had performed, to which he mentioned: “I didn’t hit Ms Heard.”

Heard claims that Depp first hit her in early 2013 – one among 14 separate allegations of home violence, all denied by Depp, relied on by NGN of their protection.

Wass had opened the second day of Depp’s cross-examination by asking the actor about his drug use, saying: “Had been you taking cocaine in March 2013?” Depp replied that it was “troublesome to remember if I used to be taking cocaine in March 2013… it’s doable.”

The barrister later advised the courtroom that Heard had advised Depp “that she knew all about habit as a result of her father and, certainly, additionally her mom had additionally been drug customers.” Depp mentioned that was true and that he turned “very shut” with Heard’s father and mom. However the actor denied that Heard had mentioned “she may assist him” together with his drug use.

The actor’s case in opposition to NGN and Wootton arises out of the publication of an article on The Solar’s web site on April 27 2018 with the headline “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely glad’ casting wife-beater Johnny Depp within the new Improbable Beasts movie?”

NGN is defending the article as true and says Depp was “controlling and verbally and bodily abusive in direction of Ms Heard, notably when he was inebriated and/or medicine” between early 2013 and Might 2016, when the couple break up.

In a written outline of the actor’s case, his barrister, David Sherborne, mentioned the article made “defamatory allegations of the utmost seriousness” in opposition to Depp, accusing him of committing critical assaults on Heard and “inflicting such critical accidents that she feared for her life”.

Sherborne mentioned: “The articles quantity to a full-scale assault on the claimant as a ‘spouse beater’, responsible of essentially the most horrendous bodily abuse. The claimant’s place is obvious – Ms Heard’s allegations are full lies. The claimant was not violent in direction of Ms Heard, it was she who was violent to him.”

He added: “The wedding was at instances bodily, at her instigation, and on events he discovered it essential to defend himself from her violence. He’s not a wife-beater and by no means has been.”

A separate libel declare introduced by Depp in opposition to Heard within the US, over a December 2018 column within the Washington Put up – which mentioned the actress obtained “the complete drive of our tradition’s wrath for ladies who converse out” however didn’t point out Depp by title, is because of start subsequent January. The pair met in 2011 and commenced residing collectively in 2012 earlier than marrying in Los Angeles in February 2015.

The trial continues.