https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8517153/Johnny-Depp-insists-not-grabbed-Amber-Heard-head.html‘Machiavellian overlord’ Amber Heard was arrested for domestic violence in 2009 after screaming row with a girlfriend, Johnny Depp's PA reveals, as court hears she took a photo of actor passed out covered in ice cream 'to show how pathetic he was'
Johnny Depp's libel case over allegations of domestic violence by his ex-wife Amber Heard continues
Depp, 57, is suing News Group Newspapers over an article in 2018 which labelled him a 'wife-beater'
Depp is said to have attacked Heard, 34, throughout their relationship and put her in fear for her life
Actor admitted that his forehead 'may have clashed' with Heard's when he was trying to 'grab her arms'
Former fiancée Winona Ryder is set to tell court this week that he was never abusive or violent to her
By Mark Duell and Vivek Chaudhary For Mailonline
Published: 10:43, 13 July 2020 | Updated: 17:56, 13 July 2020
Johnny Depp's personal assistant branded Amber Heard a 'sociopathic show pony' and 'Machiavellian overlord' who was the real abuser in their relationship and pointed out that she had been arrested for domestic violence in 2009 after a screaming row with her girlfriend, a court heard today. Heard allegedly grabbed Tasya van Ree's arm in 2009 during a row before being booked for misdemeanor domestic violence. A text from Depp's former personal assistant Stephen Deuters read out in court referred to a former neighbour of Ms. Heard and her ex-partner hearing 'screaming fights which were so loud, vivacious and frequent that it was a real problem being their neighbour'.
In one message to a friend, he said: 'I'll have you know it's on public record that Amber Heard has been arrested for domestic violence before.'
The court also heard today that Heard photographed Johnny Depp with ice cream spilled on his legs during a private flight before showing it to him the next day and saying: 'Look at what you've become look at you, it's pathetic', a court heard today. Heard, 34, and her ex-husband Depp, 57, had been on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles in May 2014, where the Pirates of the Caribbean actor is alleged to have been drinking heavily and consuming a cocktail of drugs. Meanwhile, Mr. Deuters claimed today that Heard was the 'abuser' in her relationship with the actor, and said he had never seen her with any injuries. Mr. Deuters sent texts calling Heard a 'sociopathic show pony, Machiavellian overlord, talentless c***' after she filed for divorce. Mr. Deuters alleged that Heard subjected Depp to 'years' of physical and emotional abuse, and said he was 'extremely surprised and outraged' when it became public that she had filed for a temporary restraining order. The former assistant, who is now European president of Mr. Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, said in his written witness statement that he did not see any injuries on Heard or hear her mention about being the victim of abuse. Mr. Deuters spoke after Depp finished giving 25 hours of evidence in London as his blockbuster libel case continues over allegations of domestic violence by Heard. The actor is suing The Sun publisher News Group Newspapers and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an article in April 2018 which labelled him a 'wife-beater'. Depp, who spoke about the picture of him with ice cream spilled on his legs, claimed he had been working 17-hour days at the time and had already agreed he was going to go to the Bahamas to detox. He said: 'I was obviously on the nod and very tired, falling asleep, and the ice cream then spilled all over my leg and then she took that and showed me the next day and said 'Look at what you've become look at you, it's pathetic'.'
Heard claimed that during the flight Depp had been drinking heavily and threw objects at her, pushed a chair at her, slapped her, and kicked her in the back before passing out in the toilet. Depp claimed Heard 'began to harangue him' as he was sketching in a notebook, he then tried to 'playfully tap her on the bottom with his foot', at which Heard took 'great offence' and 'continued to verbally berate' him. Today, Depp accused Heard of 'haymaking' him after her 30th birthday party when they met in a hotel three months later shortly after she had obtained a restraining order against him. Depp who made the accusation against Heard in a secret recording revealed in court today said the fight followed her 30th birthday party in April 2016, which he attended after a 'bad meeting' with a new business manager who revealed he had lost $650million after it was 'stolen' by his previous managers. He claimed Heard had been 'drinking heavily' and attacked him while he was reading in bed, punching him in the face four times before he grabbed her arms to stop her. The secret recording in which he discussed the alleged attack was made without Depp's knowledge when he met her in a San Francisco hotel room in July 2016. Depp also admitted today that his forehead 'may have clashed' with Heard's when he was trying to 'grab her arms' to stop her hitting him but denied intending to headbutt her. He also said he could not have grabbed Heard by the head and punched her in the face because he was wearing a cast with a 'little dinosaur' on his broken finger. The former couple was both photographed arriving at court separately this morning, while Heard was also seen leaving Ham Yard Hotel in Soho. Depp is said to have attacked Heard throughout their tempestuous relationship, which has been described as 'a crime scene waiting to happen', and put her in fear for her life claims he says are 'a choreographed hoax'.
Meanwhile Depp's former fiancée Winona Ryder, who starred with him in the 1991 film Edward Scissorhands, is set to tell the court via videolink later this week that he was never abusive or violent to her.
The Royal Courts of Justice in London also heard today:
Depp was asked if he 'invented' his version of events that he accidentally headbutted Heard;
A nurse's notes revealed Heard was 'dishevelled' and had 'visible bright red blood' on her lip;
Heard's father David sent Depp a text message saying he knew his daughter needed help;
Depp said smoking cannabis is a 'calming agent' for him and wouldn't put him in a rage;
Heard told a nurse she was angry with Depp because he was late to her party.
Amber Heard was arrested for domestic violence against her then-girlfriend in 2009, court hears
Depp's former personal assistant Stephen Deuters claimed that Heard was the 'abuser' in her relationship with the actor, and said he had never seen her with any injuries. Mr Deuters sent texts calling Heard a 'sociopathic show pony, Machiavellian overlord, talentless c***' after she filed for divorce. In one message to a friend, he said: 'I'll have you know it's on public record that Amber Heard has been arrested for domestic violence before.'
Heard was allegedly arrested for domestic violence against her then girlfriend Tasya Van Ree in 2009. She allegedly grabbed van Ree's arm during a row before being booked for misdemeanor domestic violence. A text from Mr Deuters read out in court referred to a former neighbour of Ms Heard and her ex-partner hearing 'screaming fights which were so loud, vivacious and frequent that it was a real problem being their neighbour'. Mr Deuters alleged that Heard subjected Depp to 'years' of physical and emotional abuse, and said he was 'extremely surprised and outraged' when it became public that she had filed for a temporary restraining order. The former assistant, who is now European president of Mr. Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, said in his written witness statement that he did not see any injuries on Heard or hear her mention about being the victim of abuse.
Depp's former personal assistant was 'regarded almost as family'
Depp's former personal assistant Mr Deuters was called to give evidence today after Depp finished. Mr Deuters said he has worked for Depp for 16 years, since June 2004. Sasha Wass QC, for NGN, asked: 'At the time of his relationship with Amber Heard, you were fulfilling the role of his personal assistant? And you were dealing with his needs, professional and personal?'
Mr Deuters replied: 'Yes.'
Ms Wass continued: 'Do you agree that you were more than an employee, you were a friend?'
Mr Deuters said: 'Yes, I suppose so.'
The barrister then asked if Mr Deuters was 'regarded almost as family', to which he said he was.
Ms Wass put it to Mr Deuters that his 'loyalty to him (Depp) has been rewarded because you are now the European president of his production company'.
The former personal assistant replied: 'Well, I got promoted to that position, yes.'
The barrister suggested: 'You are financially dependent on Mr Depp for your income. And you are dependent on the Johnny Depp brand for your future income.'
Mr Deuters agreed that was the case. Ms Wass continued: 'And if Mr Depp or the brand is damaged professionally, you in turn are damaged financially.'
Mr Deuters said: 'Yes.'
Depp's former PA denies buying illegal drugs for the star
Ms Wass then asked if 'one of your duties as personal assistant to Mr Depp over the years has been to assist him in obtaining controlled drugs'.
She added: 'I am suggesting that you involved yourself in obtaining controlled drugs, illegal drugs, for Mr Depp over the period when you were his personal assistant.'
Mr Deuters replied: 'No, I didn't purchase drugs.'
Asked if he had ever been 'involved in the arrangements' for obtaining illegal drugs for Depp, Mr Deuters said that he had but it would be a 'very rare occurrence'.
Ms Wass QC continued: 'You did so knowing full well, I presume, that the supply or being involved in the supply of controlled drugs is against the law?'
Mr Deuters replied: 'Yes.'
The barrister added: 'And you nonetheless did that because your loyalty was to Mr Depp and to make sure he got what he wanted?'
Mr Deuters said: 'Yes.'
Ms Wass then read a text from Mr Deuters to Depp on an unknown date, in which he said he was 'chasing drugs'.
She also read another from Depp to Mr Deuters which read: 'Must procure many, many more from Joel. Need them immediately, now. It must be acquired and repackaged as vitamin gel packs and put on a fast horse.'
Mr Deuters denied that the text referred to 'controlled drugs', adding: 'In all likelihood, that would be the marijuana capsules and marijuana candies, which are legal to obtain in Los Angeles, which Mr Depp has a mari
juana card for.'
Ms Wass suggested that 'Mr Depp was very keen on marijuana as a recreational drug'.
Mr Deuters said that he was 'not for the first eight years I was with him', but said that by 2013 he was.
The QC added that it was 'not only marijuana, but he was also very keen on cocaine'.
Mr Deuters said: 'I don't know if I would use the word keen.' He added: 'I would say occasional usage (of cocaine).'
Mr Deuters was then shown a picture of Depp, fully clothed, asleep on the floor of his home, which Ms Wass said showed him 'unconscious or asleep'. The barrister asked: 'Was this something that was quite a common occurrence?'
Mr Deuters replied: 'I wouldn't say common.'
He added he had 'witnessed it on a rare occasion, but when I look at that (picture) it's quite distressing to me'.
Ms Wass then said: 'You were involved in passing drugs from Nathan Holmes that Mr Holmes had supplied to Mr Depp and you were 'that man' if you like?'
Mr Deuters said he did not recall a specific incident, but said it was 'perfectly possible', adding: 'I would go and pick up maybe post from the production office I wouldn't always be aware of the specifics.'
Ms Wass said: 'That was part of your job, illegal but part of your job.'
Mr Deuters replied: 'I don't recall specifically Australia (in 2015) passing on any illegal substances.'
He added: '(In) the UK is probably the only time it has happened on a rare occasion.'
Former PA found it 'remarkable' how much Depp could drink without getting drunk
Lawyers for NGN allege that Mr Deuters also witnessed a number of incidents where Depp attacked Heard and that he was aware of his domestic abuse towards her. Mr Deuters revealed that he knew about Depp's attempts get clean of alcohol and drugs and found it 'remarkable' at how much the actor could drink. Mr Deuters added: 'He could drink a lot, he has a strong constitution. He would drink but he would never get drunk, which was quite remarkable.'
Mr Deuters added that both he and others around Depp were concerned about his addiction to opiates, particularly in 2014 and that discussions had taken place on admitting him into rehab. The court heard that Mr Deuters accompanied Depp and Heard on a private flight from Boston to Los Angeles in 2014, where the actor is alleged to have been drinking heavily and consuming a lethal cocktail of drugs. He is then accused of attacking Heard and kicking her in the back, causing her to fall over and shouting obscenities at her. Mr Deuters claimed that all he could see from where he was sitting on the plane was Depp sitting at a table drawing or writing on a notebook while Heard was arguing with him, becoming increasingly aggressive. 'She was the animated one and he was the quiet one,' he added.
Ms Wass asked Mr Deuters to explain a number of texts, which have been disclosed in court, outlining what took place on the flight, which forms a key part of the Sun's case that Depp physically and emotionally abused Heard. On May 30, Depp sent a series of texts to friend and fellow actor Paul Bettany. In one, he said: 'I'm gonna properly stop the booze thing, darling… Drank all night before I picked Amber up to fly to LA this past Sunday. Ugly mate. No food for days. Powders. Half a bottle of whisky, a thousand Red Bull and vodkas, pills. 2 bottles of Champers on the plane and what do you get... ??'
Mr Deuters claimed that he could not understand why Depp sent the text and did not recall him drinking two battles of champagne or consuming any drugs.
Depp 'made a playful attempt' to tap her Heard on her bottom but did not deliberately kick her, says actor's PA
Mr Deuters also told the court that Depp 'made a playful attempt to tap her (Heard) on her bottom' with his shoe but did not deliberately kick her to make her fall over.
Ms Wass alleged: 'That was a proper kick to her back, you saw him (Depp) kick her as she was trying to get away from him. He was behaving like a monster.'
'I don't recall that,' replied Mr Deuters.
Mr Deuters was asked about whether Mr Depp was 'screaming obscenities' during the flight, as he said he was in his text to Paul Bettany. Mr Deuters replied: 'I don't recall.'
Asked if that was 'something you are likely to forget', Mr Deuters said: 'No, I would remember that.'
He added that 'it's loud on those planes so you can't hear there's no conversation to be had'.
Mr Deuters said he could 'see him (Mr Depp) clearly' from where he was sitting, 'but I would not be able to hear. If something was being shouted I would be able to see it, but I would not be able to hear it'.
Ms Wass suggested Depp was 'very aggressive and shouting at Ms Heard', and said the actor had called Heard 'a go-getter sl*t and a whore'. Mr Deuters denied it.
Ms Wass then asked if a word like 'sl*t' was the 'sort of language Mr Depp would use to describe women'.
She asked Stephen Deuters: 'He would never use offensive language to describe women?'
Mr Deuters said he would not, prompting Ms Wass to ask if he ever used the word 'whore'. He replied he did not. Ms Wass then asked: 'C***?' Mr Deuters replied: 'No, never.'
Returning to the flight, Mr Deuters said 'there was clearly talking going on between them, that was apparent but it didn't seem to be a sort of screaming-obscenities slanging match.'
He added that there appeared to be an argument from Heard's 'body language'. Ms Wass asked if Depp 'kicked Ms Heard in the back'.
Mr Deuters replied that Depp did not kick Heard in the back, but that he had slowly raised his foot towards her 'back or bottom'.
Ms Wass said: 'I suggest this wasn't a playful attempt, this was a proper kick to her back, an assault and you saw that.' Mr Deuters said: 'No, I didn't see that.'
Ms Wass asked if Depp was 'behaving like a monster' on the flight. Mr Deuters replied: 'A monster? No. He was very quiet.' He added: 'I could tell he had a problem (with) the opiates because it was right before he kicked them.'
Ms Wass said: 'But you have forgotten the 'powders' that he mentioned.' Mr Deuters said: 'I certainly don't recall powders on the plane.'
Depp's PA is allegedly heard saying: 'No, I'm going to stay with this f****** idiot in case he gets sick'
The court was again played a recording allegedly made during the flight from Boston to LA, and Ms Wass put it to Mr Deuters that he could be heard on the recording saying 'we have an hour' and also 'no, I'm going to stay with this f****** idiot in case he gets sick'.
Mr Deuters said that was not the kind of language he would use, before saying he did not recall 'any sort of passing out' on the flight.
Ms Wass then read out part of an email which was written by Ms Heard to Depp after the 'Boston plane incident', but never sent to him, which has previously been referred to in court.
She asked if Mr Deuters had seen Depp pass out, to which he replied: 'Yes, I don't recall specifically. One memory comes to mind in 2011, in a trailer after a long day of filming.
Ms Wass asked if Mr Deuters had seen Depp vomiting, which he said he had seen 'once or twice, it wasn't a regular thing' and 'certainly not' on the plane.
She also asked if Mr Deuters had ever seen him being carried by one of his security guards, or if he'd seen the actor's assistant have to break a locked door because he had passed out, and Mr Deuters said he did not remember having seen either of those things.
Mr Deuters was then asked about a text exchange between himself and Ms Heard after the flight from Boston to LA, in which he had written: 'He is up. In the bathroom moving slowly.
'Will let you know when en route how he is in the car. He is in some pain, as you might guess.'
Ms Wass asked: 'What pain are you saying he might be in in this text message to Ms Heard?'
Mr Deuters said: 'To the best of my recollection, I suppose if he went to the bathroom and then fell asleep, potentially he is hungover or potentially ... I recall sometimes before he stopped using the opiates, it would affect his stomach.
'It could cause quite unpleasant feelings in that area, I don't know ... I can't say specifically.'
Ms Wass then read out another part of the exchange in which Mr Deuters said Mr Depp had 'been sick' and asked him: 'Do you think that, having seen what he said he had done by way of drink and controlled drugs, that he may have just overdone it?'
Mr Deuters replied: 'It's possible, yes.' He added: 'The behaviour wasn't the behaviour of a drunkard ... nevertheless the consumption could be quite impressive, if you will.
'So not necessarily behavioural, but physical, yes.'
Depp's PA tells Heard that the actor 'doesn't want to be a f***-up anymore'
Ms Wass continued to question Mr Deuters on parts of the text exchange between him and Ms Heard.
One message read: 'Hey. He's up. He's much better. Clearer. He doesn't remember much, but we took him through all that happened. He's sorry. Very sorry. And just wants to get better. Which allows us to make him follow up on that promise.'
The next read: 'He's teary. He doesn't want to be a f***-up anymore - his words.
'He's got bad indigestion this morning but otherwise alright. He's gone back to sleep for a bit. Spoken to C (Christie, Mr Depp's sister).
'We're going to set him up with Dr Kipper on weds hopefully. He won't be skipping it this time.'
Mr Deuters said in his answers that he supposed Depp was sorry because of the conflict and that he probably meant the actor wanted to get better with respect to the opiates he was addicted to at the time.
He added: 'Our concern around that time was very specifically the opiates ... that was our worry and that is what we were trying to help him with.'
Ms Wass then read out a message from Mr Deuters to Heard which read: 'There feels like a sea change in him this morning. He just spoke about how bad he feels and he wasn't talking physically.'
The barrister said: 'Did you understand why he felt so bad?' To which Mr Deuters replied: 'Because I'm sure that he loved her and he wanted to make the relationship work, and I'm sure that any conflict was very painful and upsetting to him.'
Mr Deuters added that his reference in the texts to Depp being 'incredibly apologetic' and knowing that he had 'done wrong' was probably because he felt bad having broken 'promises with regards to sobriety'.
Depp's PA says he is a 'domestic abuse survivor myself'
Mr Deuters was asked by Ms Wass about a further part of the exchange, in which he wrote: 'He was appalled. When I told him he kicked you, he cried.
'It was disgusting. And he knows it.'
He said that it wasn't his job to be a 'relationship counsellor', adding: 'As a domestic abuse survivor myself I don't do well with confrontation, I always seek to mollify.
'I wasn't comfortable in this position or sending these texts, all I said was to say what I thought people wanted to hear, to be quite honest.'
He said that when Heard complained on the flight that Depp had kicked her, which he said was 'visible' to him but he couldn't hear, that he and one of Depp's security team intervened.
Ms Wass put it to Mr Deuters that, on the face of it, the text exchange was a 'clear admission' that Depp had kicked Heard and did not remember doing so.
He replied: 'I understand that is how they could be interpreted, yes.
'He (Mr Depp) said placate her, say what she wants to hear. Often I find myself in that unfortunate position.'
Mr Deuters said 'kicked' was the word Heard had used so he continued to use it, adding: 'I obviously regret that, I didn't realise what was being put together at the time.'
Depp's PA is questioned over TMZ article in which he allegedly claimed texts were 'suspicious'
Mr Deuters was then asked about an article on US entertainment website TMZ after the text message exchange between him and Ms Heard was leaked to the media, in which he was quoted as saying the texts were 'suspicious' because they didn't have a date.
He responded that he 'never spoke to TMZ' and never had a conversation with anyone about those texts other than one of Mr Depp's lawyers at the time - who he told that the messages were 'taken out of context'.
Mr Deuters said he saw the article when it came out and it was 'very distressing'.
Ms Wass asked why he did not contact TMZ about the article at the time and tell them it was inaccurate, and he said: 'It didn't occur to me. I didn't really want to be involved at all.
'I felt my goodwill was being thrown back in my face. In retrospect I would have loved to have had the courage to say that to TMZ.'
Earlier, Depp began his fifth day of evidence in the case by being asked about an alleged incident of domestic violence against Heard shortly after he lost the top of his middle finger in Australia.
Depp says he could not have grabbed Heard by the head because he was wearing a cast
Depp's barrister David Sherborne asked Depp about an alleged incident in Los Angeles on March 23, 2015, when he is said to have grabbed Heard by the hair with one hand and hit her 'repeatedly in the head with the other'.
Depp said: 'I flew back from Australia to LA to have surgery on the finger and, at that time, they had put a pin in it, in the broken bone, the fractured bone, but to no avail.' He said he 'ended up getting MRSA, it's quite a painful disease'.
Depp explained he was wearing a cast on his hand with a 'little dinosaur' on it because he had decided if he was going to have to wear one he should have the children's 'wraparound' on it as it was 'more fun'.
The actor confirmed he was wearing the cast at the time of the alleged incident in the Eastern Columbia building. Mr Sherborne asked: 'And with that cast on, would you have been able to grab her hair with one hand and punch her repeatedly with the other?' Depp replied: 'No sir.'
Mr Sherborne then asked Depp about an alleged incident during the couple's honeymoon in July 2015 on a train in South East Asia. Depp confirmed that he and Heard were accompanied by security guard Malcolm Connolly for the entire trip, and said they 'became quite friendly' with the railway staff.
He said the staff accommodated them by putting them in a separate dining car to avoid people taking photos of them during meals, and that Mr Connolly was always present in that car. Mr Sherborne asked: 'Were you violent at all to Ms Heard during that train journey?'. To which the actor replied: 'No, not at all.'
Depp says his forehead 'may have clashed' with Heard's when he was trying to 'grab her arms'
Mr Sherborne continued by asking about an alleged incident at the couple's LA penthouse on December 15, 2015, which the court heard was 'the night before Ms Heard was due to be filming for an appearance on the James Corden show, The Late Late Show'.
The barrister said Depp is alleged to have inflicted 'a litany of violence' on Heard on that occasion, before the actor is said to have headbutted his ex-wife.
Mr Sherborne said Depp's evidence was that 'your foreheads may have clashed' when the actor was trying to 'grab her arms' to prevent her hitting him. Depp explained that he grabbed Heard to 'lock her arms' to stop her attacking him.
Mr Sherborne asked: 'Were you violent to Ms Heard in any way?' Depp replied: 'No, sir.' Mr Sherborne asked: 'Did you intend to headbutt her?' The actor said: 'Not at all.'
Mr Sherborne asked: 'Did you deliberately strike her nose causing it to be 'bashed up', I think is her (Ms Heard's) phrase?' Mr Depp replied: 'No, sir.'