Johnny Depp accused of horrific abuse caused by "drug-fueled rage"

Fairfax, Virginia - Amber Heard endured multiple acts of violence and sexual abuse at the hands of Johnny Depp, a forensic psychologist has said.

Johnny Depp allegedly subjected his ex, Amber Heard, to physical and sexual abuse.
Johnny Depp allegedly subjected his ex, Amber Heard, to physical and sexual abuse.  © Collage: REUTERS

Dr. Dawn Hughes said that the acts of sexual violence, which she graphically detailed to the court, were often a result of the actor's "drug-fueled rage."

Depp is suing his former partner for libel over a 2018 article she wrote in The Washington Post, which his lawyers say falsely implies he physically and sexually abused her.

The 58-year-old has denied all accusations of abuse against his former partner.

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Dr. Hughes, an expert on interpersonal violence and traumatic stress, said multiple incidents had occurred in which Depp had "penetrated" his ex in "moments of dominance."

The court heard that Hughes had interviewed Amber Heard multiple times for a total of 29 hours, in which the Aquaman star had reported multiple incidents of violence to her.

"There was a number of incidents of sexual violence reported in this relationship," she said.

"These are documented early on... where when Mr Depp was drunk or high he threw her on the bed, ripped off her nightgown, and tried to have sex with her."

"There were times when he forced her to give him oral sex when he was angry, these weren't in loving moments they were angry moments, moments of dominance, moments of him trying to get control over her."

Heard reacts to chilling testimony

Forensic psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes is the first witness to be brought by Heard's legal team.
Forensic psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes is the first witness to be brought by Heard's legal team.  © REUTERS

Dr. Hughes also described horrific episodes of sexual violence to the court, including one where Depp had performed a "cavity search" of Heard in an attempt to look for drugs.

"These incidents often happened in a drug-fueled rage," Hughes said.

The psychologist said one 2015 incident in Australia was "one of the most severe instances of sexual violence that Ms. Heard had to endure."

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"When he was beating her and choking her and telling her 'I'm going to f***ing kill you... I hate you'... when he grabbed a bottle that was on the bar and penetrated her with that bottle," she explained.

Hughes added that Heard had later reported thinking, "I hope it's not the broken bottle."

The 36-year-old looked visibly distressed during the testimony, which contradicted previous testimony from Dr. Shannon Curry, a forensic psychologist hired by Depp who said Heard had not shown signs of PTSD and had displayed signs of two personality disorders.

Dr. Hughes is the first witness to be brought by Heard's legal team, after Depp's lawyers rested their case earlier on Tuesday.

The DC actor applied to have the case dropped, but the motion was denied by judge Penney Azcarate, who said the standard for dismissing a case at this point in the trial was extremely high.

Cover photo: Collage: REUTERS

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