Pictures of injuries to Johnny Depp’s face have been shown at his US defamation trial amid claims they were caused by his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Depp’s security guard Sean Bett said he took photos of the Pirates of the Caribbean star as “evidence”, claiming to have been present after two attacks by Heard on Depp.
He said the first incident happened in March 2015, when Depp, 58, was left with a “swollen cheekbone and eyelid” – and a visible mark on Depp’s face can be seen in the image.
“He needed it as evidence in case Miss Heard tried to make allegations towards Depp. I was emphatic, that’s a serious mark,” said Mr Bett.
The second incident was in December 2015, said the security guard, as he claimed the former couple “got into an argument and she scratched him”.
“He had scratch marks around his nose area,” Mr Bett told the jury in Fairfax County, Virginia. “On one of the sides of his face and the cheek area.”
Depp is suing Aquaman star Heard, 35, for defamation over a Washington Post op-ed piece on domestic violence, claiming $50 million in damages.
Heard did not name her ex-husband when she wrote about becoming “a public figure representing domestic abuse” but Depp argues she was clearly referring to him.
He says he was never violent to her in their three-year marriage and instead alleges Heard was abusive – an allegation she denies. In his evidence, Mr Bett said the “loving” marriage degenerated over time into “constant bickering”.
While driving Heard to her Los Angeles penthouse after one argument with Depp, the security guard said he warned her: “This can’t continue, you’re going to kill each other or be in jail.”
He said Heard replied: “I love him, I’m not going to lose him.” Mr Bett called his boss Depp “very low key” while drunk and “too cool for school” but gave evidence that Heard had made disparaging comments about her husband and men in general.
“All men are idiots, you shouldn’t trust that guy,” he claimed she had said. He added: “Sorry Sean, not you, I didn’t mean that.”
Claims of domestic violence first emerged after the collapse of the marriage in May 2016 when Heard filed for divorce and petitioned for a restraining order while presenting a picture of her bruised face.
She alleged the injury was inflicted by Depp with a mobile phone during a final showdown at the LA penthouse.
Mr Bett said he and Depp’s head of security Jerry Judge heard “screaming and shouting coming from Miss Heard” during the incident and went inside to intervene.
“She shouted this is the last time you do this to me. Depp looked at her and said what the hell are you talking about?”
He told the court. “Judge tapped Depp on the arm and said boss, let’s leave. We exited the front door.”
Mr Bett said he did not see any visible injuries to Heard’s face. Depp is expected to start giving evidence himself today, to support his libel claim and accuse Heard of domestic abuse.
It is the second time the warring former couple have faced off in court each other, after a 2020 battle in London when Depp sued The Sun for calling him a “wife-beater”.
A judge dismissed the claim, concluding the allegations of domestic abuse against Depp were “substantially true”, and an appeal court challenge to the ruling was rejected. The US trial in front of Judge Penney S. Azcarate continues.
