Heard ‘suffered PTSD after being abused by Depp’

Psychologist tells court that Johnny Depp perpetrated a ‘high degree of serious violence’ against Amber Heard, leaving her with severe emotional damage.

US actress Amber Heard in court this week. Picture: AFP

Amber Heard suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after being physically, mentally and sexually abused by Johnny Depp, a court was told.

Dr Dawn Hughes, a clinical and forensic psychologist, told the court in Fairfax, Virginia, yesterday (Tuesday) that she diagnosed Heard after evaluating the actress for more than 29 hours and reviewing medical records. Depp, Hughes said, perpetrated a “high degree of serious violence” against Heard, leaving her with severe emotional damage.

Forensic psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes, testifies during the hearing. Picture: AFP

Heard had not feigned PTSD, Hughes told the former couple’s $50 million defamation trial, challenging the evidence of a previous witness – also a clinical and forensic psychologist – who said the actress had been guilty of “intentional exaggeration”.

On the first day that Heard’s lawyers presented evidence, the trial was told that she was a victim of sexual abuse. Hughes said Depp would try to have sex with Heard while he was drunk or high on drugs. The psychologist said that during a fight in Australia in 2015 Depp beat Heard and “penetrated” her with a bottle. He would fly into jealous rages, the court was told, and accused Heard of having an affair with the actor James Franco. Depp was a controlling partner and would decide what Heard could wear. He would not allow her to appear nude in films and barred her from working with certain actors, the court was told. Heard “never felt safe” due to Depp’s oversight on film sets, Hughes said.

Johnny Depp looks on during the hearing. Picture: AFP

She was brought in by Heard’s lawyers to challenge the testimony of Dr Shannon Curry, a psychologist hired by Depp’s team who said the actress suffered from borderline personality disorder. Heard herself could give evidence as soon as today (Wednesday).

Depp, 58, sued Heard, 36, over a 2018 article in The Washington Post in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse. The article did not mention him by name but he has argued that it clearly referred to him.

Heard countersued, alleging Depp tried to ruin her. The trial continues.

Heard fails to get case thrown out

Heard and her attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, listen to Erin Falati, also known as Erin Boerum, a former nurse of Amber Heard, as she testifies. Picture: AFP

The judge rejected an attempt by Amber Heard’s lawyers to have the lawsuit dismissed and ruled that the ultimate decision should rest with the jury.

Depp’s lawyers rested their case yesterday (Tuesday), allowing Heard’s team the chance to present a motion to strike it out, a common move in civil cases.

Judge Penney Azcarate found there was evidence that the statement was written about the plaintiff, Depp, and was written to defame him, and a jury should be allowed to consider it.

Benjamin Rottenborn, Heard’s lawyer, argued that Depp had not met the legal burden of “actual malice”.

Benjamin Chew, Depp’s lawyer, said his client had put forward multiple credible witnesses, documents and tape recordings proving his case, and that Depp had proved that Heard had physically abused him. The lawyer added that Heard “is the abuser in this courtroom”. He accused Heard of being a liar and a “recidivist perpetrator of domestic violence”.

Depp’s team wrapped up their case by hearing from Michael Spindler, a forensic accountant. He said he was asked to analyse potential lost earnings for Depp, examining the period from the publication of Heard’s op-ed in December 2018 until October 2020. Spindler said that Depp lost earnings of approximately dollars 40 million, basing the figure partly on the actor losing his role in a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film as Disney abandoned the project amid a blizzard of bad headlines regarding Depp.

The trial continues.

The Times