Johnny Depp trial - live: Actor describes fights with Amber Heard, horrific finger injury and faeces on bed

Johnny Depp testified for a second day in his $50m (£38.2m) defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard. Cross-examination began at the end of the day and will continue on Thursday morning.

Heard is being sued by Depp for implying he abused her in a 2018 op-ed she wrote. Although she did not name him, his lawyers claim her allegations have made it difficult for the actor to land movie roles, turning him from “Cinderella to Quasimodo” in Hollywood — as Depp described it in testimony.

The actor recalled a traumatic childhood with an abusive mother and said his relationship with Heard mirrored that, accusing her of “bullying” him.

He described a tumultuous time together, including a fight in which his finger was severed, the time human faeces was found on his bed, and what he says happened on the night Heard accused him of throwing a phone at her in their penthouse, shortly before divorce proceedings began.

Heard has filed a $100m (£76.6m) counterclaim against Depp for nuisance and immunity from the actor’s allegations. Depp has previously lost a defamation case in the UK against The Sun newspaper over the same article by Heard.

Key points

• Depp describes finger being severed in vodka bottle fight with Heard

• Depp says relationship with Heard mirrored abuse by his mother

• Depp cringes as he describes seeing photo of faeces on his bed

• Five things we learned from Tuesday’s testimony by Johnny Depp

• Depp tells court that abuse allegations turned him from ‘Cinderella to Quasimodo’

Depp reveals Winona Ryder tattoo that Heard didn’t like

23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s taste in tattoos was brought up during his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard as he revealed there’s one in particular she didn’t like.

Mr Depp returned to the witness stand for a second day on Wednesday in Fairfax County, Virginia, where he was asked about Ms Heard’s claims that the first time he struck her was in response to a comment about a tattoo.

The actor said that incident did not happen and reiterated that he never hit Ms Heard or any other woman.

Megan Sheets reports.

Johnny Depp reveals tattoo that Amber Heard didn’t like

A severed finger, childhood scars and wedding MDMA: What we learned from Depp’s testimony

23:28 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Clémence Michallon recaps what we have learned after two days of testimony from Johnny Depp.

A severed finger and childhood scars: Johnny Depp’s testimony on Amber Heard

‘Endless parade of insults': Depp says relationship with Heard mirrored abuse by his mother

23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp has likened his marriage to Amber Heard to his fraught relationship with his mother, calling it an “endless parade of insults”.

Mr Depp made the comparison as he resumed testimony in his defamation trial on Wednesday in Fairfax County, Virginia.

He recalled how “demeaning name calling”, being “berated” and “made a fool of” by Ms Heard would frequently escalate into full scale arguments.

Megan Sheets reports.

Johnny Depp says relationship with Amber Heard mirrored abuse by his mother

Depp says his mother’s death caused him to realise his marriage to Heard had to end

22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp says his mother’s death caused him to realise his marriage to Amber Heard had to end.

Depp was asked about his mother’s passing on Wednesday (20 April) as he testified for a second day in the defamation case opposing him and his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Betty Sue Palmer died in May 2016 after an illness. In the Fairfax County Courthouse on Wednesday, Depp recounted bringing his two children to see her at the hospital.

Depp said he had then decided that he would call Heard and inform her of Palmer’s death, as well as his intention to file for divorce.

Clémence Michallon reports.

Johnny Depp says his mother’s death caused him to realise his marriage had to end

22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

After just twenty minutes of cross-examination, the court adjourns for the day.

Depp will return to the stand at 10am on Thursday.

21:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked whether he knows that the lawsuit is about the opinion piece and nothing that came before its publication in 2018.

There is some contention between Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn and Depp.

Depp says he would have to be a “simpleton” to think that Heard’s word did not impact his career.

Asked to look at another article from two months prior to Heard’s saying Depp is not going to be in another Pirates movie, Rottenborn is trying to show that her words in the Post are not responsible for his alleged career issues.

Depp contends that his image is still in use on rides and merchandise connected to the franchise at Disney.

21:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Note: The judge was willing to adjourn for the day, but Heard’s team wanted to go ahead and begin cross-examination.

21:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Before the day ends, cross-examinaton of Depp begins by Heard’s legal team.

He is shown the op-ed piece by Heard in The Washington Post.

21:42 , Oliver O'Connell

The court is now hearing about Depp’s thoughts on the op-ed written by Heard that appeared in The Washington Post that is at the centre of this trial.

Asked what the impact of the article was on his career, Depp says that Disney took a couple of days to announce that he had been removed from the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.

He denies he ever physcially assaulted or sexually assaulted Heard.

When asked what he had lost in terms of the article, Depp says he has lost everything the second the accusations of abuse and drugs and drinking were made against him.

“I will live with that for the rest of my life ... I lost then, no matter what the outcome of this trial.”

21:32 , Oliver O'Connell

The Depp-Heard divorce was finalsied on Friday 13 January 2017.

A settlement was arrived at in which Depp would pay Heard $7m. In a joint statement it was said that the money would be donated to charity.

Depp says he has “no idea” who wrote the statement.

21:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says of this period: “It just didn’t happen. I felt like it was incredibly cruel ... I felt it was treachery. I don’t know if she just wanted me to be erased or drop dead or just let me stick around and allow her to ruin my life for awhile.”

21:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp was asked about the dates when divorce papers and restraining order were filed and how he found out from growing press coverage around the world.

He says the reasons for the restraining order appeared to “metastasise” to include allegations of drinking, drugs, and abuse, about which Depp says he could do nothing.

Depp says he warned his kids about what was being said when he saw the issue of People that included coverlines such as “Inside their toxic marriage” and featured a picture allegedly showing Heard with bruises from abuse.

20:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says he first heard of Heard’s abuse allegations on 27 May 2016 - his daughter’s birthday.

He says he saw she had gone to court and had been surrounded by paparazzi. There was a brown mark on her face.

That was the day Depp says “she chose” to file a temporary restraining order against him and was also the date of the premier of his latest movie at that time — Alice Through the Looking Glass.

20:54 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp’s legal team plays another audio excerpt.

Heard is recorded saying that she hopes the stepfather of Depp’s son, Jack, teaches him to be a man, because Depp couldn’t.

Counsel asks how often Heard brought his children into their arguments.

“Too often,” he replies.

Asked what the relationship was between Heard and his children, Depp says it was “non-existent” and they did not want to be around her.

20:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Court returns from afternoon recess.

Depp cringes as he describes seeing photo of faeces on his bed

20:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp described seeing a photo of faeces on his bed days after a fight with Amber Heard as he testified in court.

He said he didn’t see Ms Heard between 22 April and 21 May 2016 because he had “received some news that was as absurd and grotesque and cruel, and then I was shown a picture of what the problem was”.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Depp cringes as he describes seeing photo of faeces after fight with Amber Heard

20:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Court is now on its afternoon break.

20:36 , Oliver O'Connell

After retrieving some possessions from upstairs, Depp says he found her on the phone to her friend iO Tillet Wright.

He took the phone and said “she’s all yours now”, and “flopped” it onto the side of the couch, walking towards the kitchen.

Depp testifies that Rocky Pennington ran in and shouted to leave Heard alone. He says he was 20 feet away from Heard at this point who was still sitting on the couch.

He says she began to scream: “Stop hitting me Johnny,” describing her tone as “freaked out and high pitched”. Depp notes that iO is still on the other end of the phone.

At this point Depp says his security team enter and a surprised Heard then says: “That’s the last time you’ll hit me.”

Depp reiterates his claim he was still standing 20 feet away.

He says he and his team left the building. He then he went on tour with his band until July.

20:26 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says he arrived at the penthouses that night with

He testifies Heard was sitting on the couch when he arrived at their penthouse and they talked about Coachella and the fecal matter on the bed.

Kevin Murphy who manages their properties was contacted about the faeces, he says, adding that the call was ended by Mr Murphy after Heard hurled obscenities at him.

He describes her as riled.

20:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says Heard brought up the faecal matter on the bed and blamed the dogs.

He denies that it could have been.

“That did not come from a dog. That just didn’t.”

20:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says after his mother died: “I decided to call Amber and tell her that my mom had died that day. I said, ‘Look, I’ve made a decision and I think it’s the best thing. I’m going to file for divorce’.”

He testifies that he told Heard he would not cite irreconcilable differences or any abuse in the relationship.

Depp says she asked him to come over to the penthouses on 21 May to talk and he agreed, also wanting to gather his things.

20:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp describes his mother’s failing health in this period and her final days at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

She was no longer responsive when he brought his children to see their grandmother.

His mother passed away on 20 May 2016.

20:08 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says he wanted to retrieve some of his personal effects while Heard was out of town at Coachella.

His security guard said it wasn’t a good time and Depp says he showed him a photo on his phone of his bedroom and on his side of the bed was human fecal matter.

He says: “It was so outside, it was so bizarre and so grotesque that I could only laugh.”

20:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Later, after the guests left, Depp says Heard began a verbal barrage.

He says he thought it was “unfair” and “small” for her to react the way she did given the meeting he has sat through about his and financial future and that of his family.

Depp describes her insults continuing after he went to bed.

At one point Heard got out of bed and walked around to his side and began hitting him, he claims.

Depp says he got out of bed and said he was leaving. He then says Heard punched him twice in the face, so he put her back on the bed and told him not follow him.

He left the penthouse and went to his other house in LA.

19:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is told questioning will now move on to discuss Heard’s birthday in April 2016. He appears to sigh audibly.

A dinner and party was planned for her birthday. Depp says he had been in a very long meeting with accountants about a financial problem.

The meeting ran long and he says he texted Heard to let her know. She replied and asked him to bring wine and weed.

He says he arrived at the penthouse for the party about one hour and forty minutes late. Heard greeted him coldly and did not say much to him at the party.

Depp says she said to him: “I can’t believe you did this on my birthday.”

19:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Describing another fight on a family vacation on his island, Depp says he set up an easel and paints for Heard.

When an argument began and escalated, he claims Heard threw a can of something at him which struck him on forehead.

19:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is now recounting another incident in which he entered penthouse three and claims he was hit from behind by Heard.

He acts out what happened saying he “put her in a bear hug to try and stop her from hitting me anymore” and their heads collided.

Depp says that is the incident in which Heard accuses him of head-butting her and breaking her nose, which he denies is the case. He calls it accidental contact, not a headbutt, and says not part of him hit her nose.

He describes the incident as “unpleasant”.

Heard came to him after in the bedroom with a Kleenex with red on it, but he didn’t trust that it was blood, and she said he had broken her nose.

Depp says he retrieved the Kleenex from the trash can and claims it was nail polish.

19:26 , Oliver O'Connell

Listen to the audio recordings of Depp and Heard arguing about their fights.

19:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp’s team plays an audio recording of Depp and Heard talking about their fights specifically those involving the punch at the penthouse in LA and the fight in Australia.

From the audio, Heard doesn’t appear to recall kicking him at the penthouse because she was on Ambien.

In the discussion about Australia, he refers to going to different bathrooms and bedrooms to escape the fight which she says is running away from the solution.

The couple can be heard arguing about how Heard hit Depp and she admits to starting a physical fight. She also calls him a baby.

Says Depp after the recordings are played: “What was just played on the audio recordings was very much the tone and the aggression and the attitude and the need for a fight from Miss Heard.”

These are portions of a much longer audio recording, not all of which is played in court.

19:08 , Oliver O'Connell

Court resumes after lunch with Depp describing to jurors a photo take by security guard Sean Bett.

He says it shows an injury after he received a “roundhouse punch” on the cheekbone from Heard.

It occurred in penthouse five at the Eastern Columbia Building on 23 March 2015.

Heard’s sister Whitney tried to intervene he said, but he claims she still managed to hit him.

Depp says Heard’s friends took MDMA at wedding and reveals why daughter Lily-Rose didn’t attend

18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp was asked about his wedding to Amber Heard on day two of his testimony in a high-profile defamation case.

Depp testified on Wednesday (20 April) in Fairfax, Virginia, as part of the civil lawsuit he has filed against his ex-wife Amber Heard.

During his testimony, Depp said his daughter Lily-Rose Depp, the eldest of his two children with Vanessa Paradis, did not attend his wedding to Heard in 2015.

Clémence Michallon reports.

Johnny Depp on why his daughter Lily-Rose didn’t attend wedding to Amber Heard

18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

17:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp’s attorney says she is about to “switch gears” in her questioning and so Judge Penney Azcarate calls the lunch break.

Court resumes at 2pm.

17:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp describes the treatment for his injured finger in detail, explaining the insertion of a pin, and how he contracted MRSA.

‘Blood was just pouring out’

17:49 , Oliver O'Connell

During his testimony in court, actor Johnny Depp spoke about a fight with his former wife Amber Heard during which he claims she threw a vodka bottle at him, severing his finger.

Johnny Depp describes severing finger in vodka bottle fight with Amber Heard

17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

17:43 , Oliver O'Connell

After the incident, Depp says he slept on his friend Martin Connolly’s sofa and instructed his staff to get Heard on a flight back to Los Angeles.

“To all intents and purposes, I was done.”

Shown a picture taken in the emergency room that night, Depp recalls a further detail, claiming that Heard stubbed his cigarette out on his face after the incident with his finger.

The photo is entered into evidence and shown to the jury.

A further photo of his injured finger is also entered into evidence and shown to the jury.

17:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says that blood was pouring out and he could see the bone. He felt he was close to what he think a nervous breakdown feels like.

He then started to write on the walls in his blood about the “lies” he had caught Heard in.

At some point he retreated to a bathroom and called Dr Kipper teo tell him to come over and that he had severed his finger.

Depp shows the jurors his right middle finger, the end of which was severed and says that it is his dominant hand.

As members of staff arrived, an initial cleaning of the wound showed it needed emergency room care.

At the hospital he lied about how the injury had occurred saying it happened in a set of doors.

Asked why he lied he said he did not want to get Heard in trouble or reveal what had transpired. Depp said he told Dr Kipper what had actually happened.

17:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says he was sobre at the time apart from marijuana, but when he heard Heard leave the vicinity of the bathroom door, he went downstairs and poured himself three shots of vodka — the first alcohol he had ingested in a while.

Heard discovered him there and he says she began to shout at him before she grabbed the bottle of vodka and threw it at him. It smashed behind his head.

Depp says he picked up a second larger bottle of vodka and poured himself another shot. He testifies that Heard picked that up and threw that at him.

He shows the jury how he was sitting and how he says the bottle impcted the edge of the bar and severed the top of his finger.

17:25 , Oliver O'Connell

What followed, Depp says, was Heard going into a “tailspin” by the time she reached Australia.

He says she kept saying: “I’m not even in your will. I’m not even in your will.”

Depp says he thought that was an odd thing to say as nobody had time to change any wills, or anything of that nature.

She accused him of being in league with the lawyers to trick her into getting nothing if something might happen to him.

The arguments and confrontation escalated at the rented house in Australia and Depp says he found himself again locked in the bathroom.

He describes her as screaming obscenities and knocking on doors “wanting a physical altercation”.

17:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked about Heard’s presence in Australia, he says she came later.

He says Heard told him she was upset because an attorney she had met with regarding the post-nup was rude and dismissive and all she was being shown was an example of such an agreement.

Depp says she was very upset.

17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp’s attorney moves the conversation on to Australia where Depp next travelled to film Pirates of the Caribbean 5.

He confirms which members of his entourage were there and that he had a meeting with Sean Bailey, third in command at Disney.

17:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked if they had a prenuptial agreenment in place, Depp says they did not.

He tells the court that Heard would avoid talking about it or it would turn into an argument. It then became took late to arrange and so a post-nuptial agreement was discussed.

17:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says his daughter, Lily Rose, did not attend the wedding because she and Heard were “not on particularly good terms”.

There was alcohol served at the wedding and Heard and her friend Rocky Pennington had scheduled “dinner, dancing, and drugs” on the schedule.

Depp says he observed Heard and all of her “gang” of friends taking MDMA, as well as some of his friends.

Asked if he had taken any drugs, Depp says he didn’t take MDMA because it would not have had an effect on him, but he did smoke marijuana.

Depp says he doesn’t believe he was drinking at the time.

17:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Live feed restored.

Depp is now talking about his wedding to Heard.

17:04 , Oliver O'Connell

The live feed from the court has temporarily gone down.

Please stand by.

17:02 , Oliver O'Connell

On return to LA, Depp says he coinvinced Heard to leave him alone for five days or a week while he went through the detox.

She reluctantly agreed, he said, and he offered to put her up in a bungalow at The Beverly Hills Hotel with some friends.

Depp reveals tattoo that Heard didn’t like

17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s taste in tattoos was brought up during his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard as he revealed there’s one in particular she didn’t like.

Meghan Sheets reports.

Johnny Depp reveals tattoo that Amber Heard didn’t like

16:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Recounting the rehab experience on the island, he describes the process as feeling “like the inside of you ... is trying to escape the body”.

Saying that the pain of withdrawal can be like nothing ever experienced, he begins to explain how Heard took control of the medication used to ameliorate the symptoms.

“I said to Miss Heard, ‘I’m going to need the meds now’, and she looked at the clock and she said, ‘It’s not time’.”

Depp says he hated to admit it but it was the lowest point in his life, saying he pleading with Heard for the meds.

He tells the court he recalls sitting on the floor and crying while he begged her and she refused.

After that incident he told Dr Kipper and Nurse Lloyd that he didn’t think the detox would work any more on the island and that she couldn’t be with him going through the rest of the detoxification.

16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As part of a detox program, Depp travelled to his private island in The Bahamas.

He says he was uncomfortable with Heard joining him there as the detox process would not be pleasant and he was afraid that it would be too much for her and that she might be too much for him at the time.

Depp says Heard insisted she come along and took his sister Christi’s place on the trip.

Earlier: Depp compares Heard to his mother

16:43 , Oliver O'Connell

16:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Court resumes and the jury returns.

Depp’s attorney switches focus to ask about his treatment by Dr David Kipper and Nurse Debbie Lloyd — both of whom have already testified by video deposition.

16:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Penney Azcarate calls morning recess until 11.35am.

16:17 , Oliver O'Connell

On arrival back in LA, he says Heard checked herself into the Chateau Marmont and that he paid for it as generally he would take care of expenses like that.

He says she was upset but he does not know why she went to the hotel when she still had her own apartment and the penthouse.

16:14 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp’s attorney asks him about the flight to LA from Boston that Mr Wyatt referred to in testimony yesterday.

He recalls still being on the medication he was addicted to and that he was in consultation about detoxing.

Depp explains he had told the nurse that he was taking more than he was so that he could still have one or two on him to avoid suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

Heard wanted to be picked up in New York with her assistant before the plane went on to Boston before flying to LA. He says they had fought the night before and that he had taken two of the opiates.

Depp tells the court he was feeling the impact of the medication which he describes as akin to feeling sleepy, not blacked out.

He says Heard was trying to instigate a fight with him and said she was “ready for some king of brawl”. Depp says he sat there drawing, before removing himself to the bathroom with a pillow.

Depp says he was not drinking to excess as the medication had taken its effect.

Depp says relationship with Heard mirrored abuse by his mother

16:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp has likened his marriage to Amber Heard to his fraught relationship with his mother, calling it an “endless parade of insults”.

He recalled how “demeaning name calling”, being “berated” and “made a fool of” by Heard would frequently escalate into full scale arguments.

Megan Sheets reports.

Johnny Depp says relationship with Amber Heard mirrored abuse by his mother

16:04 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked about the filming of the movie Black Mass in Boston in May 2014.

He recalls the long work days due to the application and removal of prosthetics.

Heard was staying with him the entire time he was making the film, Depp tells the court. He says that Jerry Judge, Stephen Deuters, Keenan Wyatt, and other staff were also present in Boston.

15:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked if he has a tattoo that Heard objected to, Depp responds that he had “Winona forever” — referring to his past relationship with actress Winona Ryder — changed to “Wino forever”.

He recalls she encouraged him to get a tattoo about her, which he eventually did. Depp adds that ironically not long after that “everything started going sideways”.

“I was doing what he could to bring a smile to her face rather than a frown.”

He adds: “I tried to wake her up with laughter,” and that he constantly tried to bring her mood up and many times it worked and sometimes it did not.

Depp reiterates that he didn’t want to fail at the relationship and kept trying, but didn’t realise “what I was up against”.

15:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked about the alleged first time he struck Heard, apparently in response to comment about one of his tattoos.

He reiterates that he never struck Heard or any woman and the incident did not happen. Depp adds that he would not strike a woman for making fun of a tattoo, he adds the allegation never made any sense to him.

15:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked about Heard’s use of other elicit substances.

He says she was fond of MDMA and mushrooms, and that she was on other medications including a “high velocity” speed.

Depp estimates he saw her take MDMA about 20 times over the years, and mushrooms about six or seven times.

15:51 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked about Ms Heard drinking.

He says she always drank around him and would easily drink two bottles of wine in an evening. Depp says she did not stop drinking during his 18 months of sobriety. He would open her wine and pour her a glass.

During his sobriety he recalls having half a glass of champagne after presenting a lifetime achievement award to actor Christopher Lee. He told Heard about it afterwards and said he had enjoyed the champagne.

Heard’s reaction he says was that she “lost it” and stormed off. He described her reaction as “apopleptic” and that she called him “a complete mess” and an “alcoholic” and that his kids were upset by him.

Depp says he suggested she got sobre with him and that she refused because she did not have a problem.

15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked how the relationship impacted his use of drugs and alcohol.

He says that when they travelled there would be a separate hotel room booked for him to escape to and he when retreating he says he would feel “inspired by Ms Heard” to have something to distance himself from the verbal attacks.

“I had to have something maintain me, and for a while ... placation seemed the best route if I was unable to escape her clutches.”

He is asked how Heard tried to stop him using drugs and alcohol.

Depp recalls drinking wine with Heard and reiterates his high tolerance for alcohol that he referred to in yesterday’s testimony. He sought advice as to whether he was an alcoholic

15:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked about the use of the term “monster” in Heard’s description of him.

He says he accepted her use of it: “If she had referred to me as being a monster, there was no way I was going to go through a 45 minute conversation of, ‘You’re a monster!’ ‘No, I’m not.’ ‘You’re a monster!’ ‘No, I’m not.’”

Depp continues: “She told me many times the monster was only me when I was using drugs and alcohol. But even when I was stone cold sober ... the term “The Monster” was still there.”

He adds that the description was her mind, but not his.

15:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked about recording their conversations which he says he did on his phone because she would deny things she had said during their arguments the next day.

He says she would “perform for the tape” when she knew it was recording.

Depp says then Heard also began recording their conversations surruptiously.

15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Why did you stay with Heard, Depp is asked.

He replies it is a complicated answer but says it has something to do with his father being so stoic while his mother beat him, and also that he had been in a wonderful relationship before for 15 years with Vanessa Paradis.

Depp ruminates on being a celebrity or public figure and that in that realm people can say anything about you.

He describes Heard as having a need for conflict and a need for violence and he reiterates that he tried to deal with it by putting space between them.

Depp says he stayed to be like his father and that he wanted to stay to help Heard to be like the person he first met and not the “opponent” she had become.

“I stayed because I didn’t want to fail. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. Especially Miss Heard. I didn’t want to break her heart,” he says — recalling his mother’s suicide attempt after his father left.

He says Heard spoke of suicide on occasion when he tried to leave.

15:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says Heard would tell him what a bad father he was and he had no idea how to parent.

He says he couldn’t understand how he could be so wrong about everything at his age.

Depp says Heard had to have him there at all times for her own needs.

He describes an increasingly “grim” and “dire” situation with her telling him he was a “bad father” and an “awful father”.

Depp says he knew it was not true but recognised it was said to bring him down.

There are battles to be fought he says, but this “bullying was becoming too much to take”.

15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp says these arguments would often escalate into violence.

He says Heard would strike out in her anger and frustration, with a slap or a shove, or throwing a TV remote at him, or a glass of wine in his face.

Depp says that personal experiences he shared with Heard were used against him “like weapons”.

“There was no need for it. Too many lines were crossed.”

15:12 , Oliver O'Connell

“The only way I could find any sort of peace was to walk away, or try to walk away ... there were times I would lock myself away in places she could not reach,” he says, recalling locking himself in the bathroom on several occasions.

15:11 , Oliver O'Connell

To cope with the situation, Depp says he would remove himself from the situation as much as possible as he had done in his youth with his mother.

“As it escalated and continued to escalate, I went to straight to what I had learned as a youth, which was to remove myself from the situation so that it couldn’t continue. Because there’s only so much your ears can hear and never forget,” he tells the court.

15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp recalls arguments spiralling out from disagreements and that he would stick up for himself at first.

He recalls “demeaning name calling” and being “berated” and “made a fool of”, before things would escalate into a full scale argument.

“If there’s a dialogue between two people, both people need to speak. But there was no way to fit a word in. It was a sort of rapid-fire, endless parade of insults,” he says.

He says that he “was not allowed to be right and not allowed to have a voice” even about things he was well versed in, even related to his career.

Depp likes his relationship to Heard to his relationship with his mother.

“You start to slowly realise that you are in a relationship with your mother, in a sense. And I know that sounds perverse and obtuse, but the fact is, some people search for weaknesses in people.”

15:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is reminded that in testimony yesterday he spoke of the early days of his relationship with Heard.

He is asked when he felt things began to turn in the relationship.

Depp refers to the incident where he broke the tradition of removing his boots when he returned home and she was not happy.

He expands from that saying that suddenly according to Heard he was wrong about everything.

“If you tried to explain yourself and correct the misunderstanding, it would then begin to heighten as Miss Heard was unable to be wrong. It just didn’t happen. She couldn’t be wrong,” he tells the court.

Court resumes

15:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Penney Azcarate has entered the courtroom and told Depp he can return to the stand.

The jury is now being brought in.

Five things we learned from yesterday’s testimony

14:40 , Oliver O'Connell

It was the fifth day of Johnny Depp’s $50m defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, and for the first time the Hollywood star took the stand to give evidence.

Here are five things that we learned from the trial on Tuesday before Depp’s testimony resumes at 10am.

Five things we learned on fifth day of $50m Depp-Heard defamation trial

Depp says he is ‘not embarrassed’ as he testifies

14:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp testified on Tuesday that “about six years ago, Ms Heard made some quite heinous and disturbing criminal” claims against him, adding that the allegations were not within “any species of truth”.

He said, “it was a complete shock... it just didn’t need to go in that direction”.

The actor’s testimony continues today at 10am ET.

Johnny Depp says he is ‘not embarrassed’ as he testifies against ex-wife Amber Heard

Depp tells court he saved nervous Heard from nude scene

13:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp described how he helped a nervous Amber Heard avoid a nude scene on the set of The Rum Diary movie.

Mr Depp, who starred in and produced the movie based on a Hunter S Thompson novel, told the court in the former couple’s multi-million dollar defamation trial how his ex-wife had been “appreciative” of the move.

Graeme Massie reports.

Johnny Depp tells how he saved nervous Amber Heard from nude scene on Rum Diary set

Depp tells court abuse allegations turned him from ‘Cinderella to Quasimodo’

13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp spoke about the toll Amber Heard’s abuse allegations have taken on him as he took the witness stand in his defamation trial against her.

Mr Depp opened his testimony on Tuesday afternoon in Fairfax County, Virginia, by calling his ex-wife’s claims “heinous,” “disturbing” and “not based in any species of truth”.

The Hollywood veteran invoked Disney characters in explaining how the allegations have affected his career, saying: “[It’s] very strange when one day you’re Cinderella so to speak and then in 0.6 seconds you’re Quasimodo.”

Megan Sheets reports on the actor’s testimony.

Johnny Depp says Amber Heard’s abuse claims turned him from ‘Cinderella to Quasimodo’

‘I didn’t see it. But I believe that the film did pretty well'

13:10 , Oliver O'Connell

In one surprising moment during Tuesday’s testimony, Johnny Depp revealed that he’s never seen his movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

Describing how the movie had changed his life because of its success and how he had formulated the character of Jack Sparrow — amongst his most famous screen portrayals — he said: “I didn’t see it. But I believe that the film did pretty well, apparently, and they wanted to keep going, making more and I was fine to do that.”

Peony Hirwani has the story for The Independent.

Johnny Depp says he’s never seen Pirates of the Caribbean

Depp says Heard ‘grossly embellished’ his substance abuse as he reveals the first time they met

12:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp says that his ex-wife Amber Heard’s characterisation of his substance abuse has been “grossly embellished” and is “just plainly false”.

The Hollywood star told the court in the former couple’s $50m defamation trial that he had never taken drugs for “the party effect” and only ever to deal with “trauma”.

And he said that it had been “an easy target” for the actress to hit after their relationship and marriage imploded.

Graeme Massie reports for The Independent.

Johnny Depp says Amber Heard ‘grossly embellished’ his substance abuse

Depp tells of childhood abuse as mother was ‘suicidal’

12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp told a Virginia court of his childhood abuse as his mother was “suicidal” and his father told him that “you’re the man now” when he left the family.

Gustaf Kilander reports on the actor’s recollections of his childhood.

Johnny Depp tells of childhood abuse as mother was ‘suicidal’ and father left

Depp’s friend testifies that Heard yelled at him on private plane

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s sound engineer Keenan Wyatt has testified during the actor’s defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard that she became “abruptly loud” when he told her that Mr Depp cared for her.

According to Mr Wyatt, Ms Heard yelled “how dare you talk to me” after he tried to speak to her during a private flight.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Depp’s sound engineer testifies that Amber Heard yelled ‘how dare you talk to me’

Piers Morgan calls Amber Heard and Depp ‘supreme narcissists’ amid ongoing legal battle

09:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Piers Morgan calls Amber Heard and Johnny Depp ‘supreme narcissists’

What we’ve learned about Johnny Depp from the Amber Heard defamation trial

07:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports on what we knew going into the trial and what we have learned from the actor’s, at times frank, first day of testimony.

Johnny Depp: What we’ve learned about actor from Amber Heard defamation trial

ICYMI: Depp’s sister reveals their abusive mother called him ‘one eye’

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp spoke extensively about his childhood and mother today in court, echoing some of the testimony of his sister who took the stand last week.

Johnny Depp’s sister reveals their abusive mother used to call him ‘one eye’

ICYMI: Couple’s former marriage counselor says pair engaged in ‘mutual abuse’

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp and Heard’s former marriage counselor says couple engaged in ‘mutual abuse’

Who might yet testify at the trial?

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

In the week since testimony began in Amber Heard’s defamation trial, some big names have been mentioned, but who might actually appear on the stand other than Johnny Depp?

From James Franco to Elon Musk, who could testify at Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial?

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard: A timeline of their relationship

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A timeline of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s relationship and court battles

Depp tells of childhood abuse as mother was ‘suicidal’

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp told a Virginia court of his childhood abuse as his mother was “suicidal” and his father told him that “you’re the man now” when he left the family.

Gustaf Kilander reports on the actor’s testimony about his early life.

Johnny Depp tells of childhood abuse as mother was ‘suicidal’ and father left

Depp’s sound engineer testifies that Heard yelled ‘how dare you talk to me’

Wednesday 20 April 2022 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp’s sound engineer Keenan Wyatt has testified during the actor’s defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard that she became “abruptly loud” when he told her that Mr Depp cared for her.

According to Mr Wyatt, Ms Heard yelled “how dare you talk to me” after he tried to speak to her during a private flight.

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Depp’s sound engineer testifies that Amber Heard yelled ‘how dare you talk to me’

What we’ve learned about Johnny Depp from Amber Heard defamation trial

Wednesday 20 April 2022 00:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports on what we knew going into the trial and what we have learned from the actor’s, at times frank, first day of testimony.

Johnny Depp: What we’ve learned about actor from Amber Heard defamation trial

Today in pictures

Tuesday 19 April 2022 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp tells court abuse allegations turned him from ‘Cinderella to Quasimodo’

Tuesday 19 April 2022 23:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp spoke about the toll Amber Heard’s abuse allegations have taken on him as he took the witness stand in his defamation trial against her.

Mr Depp opened his testimony on Tuesday afternoon in Fairfax County, Virginia, by calling his ex-wife’s claims “heinous,” “disturbing” and “not based in any species of truth”.

The Hollywood veteran invoked Disney characters in explaining how the allegations have affected his career, saying: “[It’s] very strange when one day you’re Cinderella so to speak and then in 0.6 seconds you’re Quasimodo.”

Megan Sheets reports.

Johnny Depp says Amber Heard’s abuse claims turned him from ‘Cinderella to Quasimodo’

Depp says he is ‘not embarrassed’ as he testifies in trial against ex-wife Heard

Tuesday 19 April 2022 22:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Johnny Depp said in testimony today that “about six years ago, Ms Heard made some quite heinous and disturbing criminal” claims against him, adding that the allegations were not within “any species of truth”.

He said, “it was a complete shock... it just didn’t need to go in that direction”.

Gustaf Kilander reports on what the court heard from Depp today.

Johnny Depp says he is ‘not embarrassed’ as he testifies against ex-wife Amber Heard

Depp: Heard’s description of drug abuse ‘grossly’ embellished

Tuesday 19 April 2022 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Tuesday 19 April 2022 22:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Testimony ends for the day an the jury is excused.

Judge Penney Azcarate says Depp can stand down until tomorrow morning.

Tuesday 19 April 2022 22:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp say she met Heard’s friends almost immediately and is asked about each individually.

One friend, Rocky Pennington, also moved into a penthouse at the Eastern Columbia Building with her boyfriend, Josh Drew. Later a female friend moved in as well.

Another, iO Tillett Wright lived in a house owned by Depp in order to write a book.

He said the penthouses would otherwise be empty, though one had been intended for his sister.

Depp says they spent more time at the penthouses than he ever did.

Tuesday 19 April 2022 21:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp speaks fondly of the Heard family who he first met when they visited Los Angeles from Austin.

He speaks more specifically about Heard’s sister Whitney, whom he says he called “sis”.

She lived with Heard at times and later moved into one of the penthouses (number four) owned by Depp at the Eastern Columbia Building in Downtown LA. He charged her no rent.

Asked if he had ever done drugs with Whitney, Depp responds yes on a couple of occasions. He later adds that they did a line or two of cocaine together.

Tuesday 19 April 2022 21:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp is asked if they had nicknames for each other. He recalls that hers was “Slim” and he was “Steve” — names taken from the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movie To Have and Have Not, he had asked her to watch to practice “stillness” on camera.

He acknowledges the large age difference between him and Heard and between Bogart and Bacall. Bogart was 45 and Bacall was 19 when they met.

Depp was 48 and Heard was 25 when they began dating in 2012.

Tuesday 19 April 2022 21:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked what he liked about Heard, Depp says she seemed to be the perfect partner for him for her love of obscure blues music, being literate, and being smart and funny.

For the first year and half he says things were wonderful, then “things began to reveal themselves”.

Referring back to her habit of taking off his boots, Depp is asked what other habits he observed early on in the relationship.

He says that if she wanted to go to bed and he wanted to stay up because he wasn’t ready to go to bed, Heard would find that unacceptable.

Tuesday 19 April 2022 21:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp recalls filming the movie and how Heard was appreciative about his realisation that she did not have to film a nude scene and it could be suggested instead.

He recalls in a scene they had together that he felt something in a kiss that they preformed for the camera. He says it was something that he shouldn’t have been feeling.

Asked when their romantic relationship began, he says that the next day they had a glass of wine while listening to old blues music and they kissed, he tells the court.

He says it was only later that they began to see each other as a couple after his relationship with Vanessa Paradis came to an end.

Tuesday 19 April 2022 21:29 , Oliver O'Connell

Depp’s attorney asks him about his relationship with Heard and how it began.

He talks about discovering the long-lost novel of The Rum Diary with author Hunter S Thompson and how that led to him meeting Heard as they moved forward with plans to take the book to the big screen.

When Heard was brought in, she has been auditioned five times and Depp says there was uncertainty about her ability to fit the role.

He met with her and felt that she was a fit for the role and Thompson would have wanted her for the role.

Depp is complimentary about Heard in his testimony, and describes how he felt he could help her with the part.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website