Johnny Depp ‘performed cavity search’ on Amber Heard, court hears

Testimony from a key witness had Amber Heard fighting back tears during Johnny Depp’s defamation trial. WARNING: Distressing content.

Amber Heard was physically abused by her father and witnessed him beat her mother, a key witness said in court today as the actress was seen fighting back tears.

Psychologist Dawn Hughes also testified in court today that Johnny Depp allegedly tried to rape ex-wife Amber Heard and forcibly performed a cavity search on her.

Amber Heard appears to fight back tears as her witness speaks about abuse she endured as a child.

“When Mr. Depp was drunk or high, he threw her on the bed, ripped off her nightgown and tried to have sex with her,” said Hughes, referring to alleged abuse Heard had reported to her. “There were times when he forced her to give him oral sex when he was angry at her.”

On one trip, Depp allegedly accused a woman of hitting on Heard. When the couple returned to their trailer, Hughes said that “Mr. Depp performed a cavity search” with his fingers to look for cocaine he thought she was hiding inside her.

The worst alleged incident of sexual assault occurred in Australia when Depp claims Heard smashed his hand with a vodka bottle, severing a piece of his finger, in 2015.

It’s been another explosive day in court for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

“He was beating her and choking her and telling her I am going to f**king kill you,” Hughes said. “He grabbed a bottle that was on the bar and penetrated her with that bottle.”

Hughes said Heard had described dissociating from her body.

“The only thing she was thinking is, ‘I hope it’s not the broken one,’” the psychologist testified. Depp has denied physically or sexually assaulting his ex-wife.

Hughes also described Depp as obsessively jealous, accusing Heard of having affairs with all her co-stars and trying to control her career.

The actress reported some of the alleged assaults to her therapists, and Hughes said she reviewed their notes.

Elsewhere in today’s updates from court:

Heard was ‘raised in a family of violence’

Dr Dawn Hughes testified to the court today. Picture: AFP

Amber Heard was physically abused by her father and witnessed him beat her mother, Dr. Dawn Hughes testified.

“Her father was very explosive and had violent outbursts,” the psychologist said, as Heard bowed her head.

Hughes told jurors that Heard’s parents also struggled with drug addiction, and the actress was forced to become a caretaker at a young age. As the doctor described her difficult childhood, Heard’s eyes appeared to water and her lower lip trembled.

The dysfunctional family dynamic played a role in her relationship with Depp, said Hughes, the first witness called by Heard’s team.

“She learned she could love someone who hurts her,” the doctor explained. “She knew people who hurt her could also love her.”

Heard was at risk of ‘lethal domestic violence’

At times Heard looked visibly distressed in court. Picture: AFP

Defence expert Dr. Dawn Hughes said that the abuse Amber Heard reported that she had suffered at the hands of ex-husband Johnny Depp put her at risk of “lethal domestic violence.”

“Mr. Depp threatened to kill her. The increase in severity of the abuse, the forced sexual activity, the choking behaviour, his obsessive jealousy. The control aspect and his threatening suicide, to kill himself,” she told jurors prompting Depp to respond with a surprised expression. “This means a woman is at risk for more serious, more lethal domestic violence.”

Depp has denied Heard’s allegations of abuse. Hughes also testified that Heard was not faking her symptoms, a finding that differed from Depp’s expert witness, Dr. Shannon Curry.

Heard ‘suffers from PTSD due to Johnny Depp’s abuse’

Depp is suing his ex-wife for defamation. Picture: AFP

Amber Heard suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by “intimate partner violence by Mr. Depp,” Dr. Dawn Hughes told jurors.

Hughes is the first witness in the defence case against Depp, who is suing his ex-wife for defamation over a 2018 op-ed she wrote alleging she was a victim of domestic abuse.

“Ms Heard’s report of intimate partner violence and the records that I reviewed is consistent with that we know in the field about intimate partner violence characterised by physical violence, psychological aggression, sexual violence, coercive control and surveillance behaviours,” she said.

She reached her conclusion after spending 29 hours interviewing Heard. She also interviewed Heard’s two therapists, her mother and reviewed evidence from this case and prior litigation.

Hughes said that Heard has suffered “clear psychological and traumatic effects” from statements “Depp made through his attorney,” bolstering the actress’s $100 million countersuit alleging her ex-husband conspired with his former lawyer to defame her.

Depp’s expert witness, psychologist Shannon Curry, watched the testimony in the gallery, which appeared to throw off Heard’s attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, who repeatedly called Hughes “Dr. Curry.”

Doctor explains ‘cycle of violence’

Depp and Heard on a 2014 red carpet. Picture: Getty

Dr. Hughes told jurors that domestic violence victims become trapped in a pattern of abuse.

In the first phase, the abuser may slam the fridge door a little harder, throw an object or scream before graduating to physical abuse, she explained in response to questions from attorney Elaine Bredehoft.

Amber Heard, 36, wore a pained expressed and bowed her head for several seconds during Hughes’ testimony. The psychologist said after the violent outburst phase comes contrition. The abuser apologises and promises not to do it again, then the cycle recurs.

“You’re stuck in this vicious cycle of how can I be with this man who hurts me yet I love him so much,” Hughes testified.

The expert added that it is not unusual for a victim to yell at her partner or become violent and fight back.

“Anger is a very normal emotion to having been abused,” she said. “She can also be afraid but they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

Hughes said that men, too, can be victims of domestic violence but said this has to be put into perspective. Women are much more likely to be killed and sexually assaulted by their partners.

Depp rests his case

Earlier, Johnny Depp’s spokesperson issued a statement that summed up the last two weeks of testimony after the actor rested his case.

“Over the last 3 1/2 weeks, we’ve seen and heard from nearly 30 witnesses who have attested to and supported Mr. Depp’s claims that Ms. Heard defamed him in her 2018 op-ed,” according to the statement. “Ms. Heard’s reckless op-ed in turn caused him to lose a $US22.5 million deal with Disney for Pirates of the Caribbean 6, resulting in an overall loss of earnings of over $US40 million since December 18, 2018.”

The spokesperson added that, “Numerous witnesses have testified that Ms. Heard engaged in psychological, verbal and physical abuse towards Mr. Depp.”

Depp’s team was pleased with Judge Penney Azcarate’s ruling rejecting the defense’s bid to dismiss the case, according to the statement.

“We stand confident in the future of the case and for the truth to be continued to be shared,” the spokesperson said.

This story originally appeared on Fox News and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Johnny Depp ‘performed cavity search’ on Amber Heard, court hears