Johnny Depp abused Amber Heard with a bottle, forced her to give oral sex and subjected her to a “cavity search” during their relationship, a psychologist testified on Tuesday — as the actress ultimately defamed the couple. began to present his side in the case.
Dr. Don Hughes, the first witness to be called by Heard’s defense team, said the 36-year-old “Aquaman” star suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after her marriage to Depp, which was caused by alleged abuse at her hands.
Referring to the alleged incidents, Hughes said, “When Mr. Depp was drunk or high, he threw her on the bed, tore off her nightgown and tried to have sex with her,” Heard reports to her. Was.
“Many times when he was angry with her, he forced her to have oral sex.”
In a more graphic testimony, Hughes described how Depp allegedly “discovered a cavity” of Heard’s privates with his fingers—and said that the actress herself when Depp allegedly abused her with a bottle. “separated”.
Hughes, who specializes in “abuse of interpersonal violence,” said the actress was particularly vulnerable after growing up in an abusive home, where she “learned to love someone who hurt her.”
“Love and normalcy are almost always the case in these relationships,” Hughes, who was an expert witness in the trials of disgraced rapper R. Kelly and Nxivm sex-slave cult leader Keith Ranier, testified at the Depp trial.
“When you’re in a state of calm and the violence isn’t happening, you get back with the man you love. It creates a trauma bond,” she said.
Heard was on the verge of tears during testimony about his childhood with an abusive father, which Hughes said made him more vulnerable to being victimized again.
“He learned to be a caretaker from a very early age,” Hughes said. “She learned she could love someone who hurt her.”
The psychologist said Heard believed she could “fix” Depp—”just like she tried to heal her father.”
“He really believed she could cure Mr. Depp and relieve him of his substance abuse problems, but it didn’t work out,” Hughes said.
Follow the post’s live coverage of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation lawsuit
Depp, 58, has claimed in a $50 million defamation lawsuit that it was Heard who was abusive and that his claims to the contrary have harmed his career and income.
In other testimony Tuesday, Erin Fallati, a private nurse once hired by Heard, said the actress struggled with anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance abuse.
“I have a generalized memory of being there … issues of jealousy and anxiety, including distrust within the relationship,” Fatalti said in a pre-recorded statement.
“I have a vague understanding of the issues that have been coming up throughout the years, but I wouldn’t say it was a constant theme,” she said.
Depp says Heard’s allegations cost him lucrative bookings and his recurring role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise.
Forensic accountant Michael Spindler testified on behalf of the actor on Tuesday, “I concluded that Mr. Depp suffered a loss of approximately $40 million in earnings.”
However, Spindler admitted at cross-examination by Heard attorney Benjamin Rottenborn that he did not take into account Depp’s alleged drug and alcohol abuse and his “deteriorating box office performance” when making the calculations.
Nonetheless, Judge Penny Azcarte rejected a motion by Heard’s attorneys to dismiss Depp’s trial after his side put the case to rest.
The actress is now expected to take a stand in her defense when the hearing resumes on Wednesday.
