Actor Johnny Depp ordered to submit audio recordings in libel case

American actor Johnny Depp filed a lawsuit against United Kingdom tabloid newspaper the Sun over an article labeling him as a “wife-beater,” in February 2020.

As part of the ongoing case, the actor has been ordered to hand over audio recordings and medical records between himself and his ex-wife Amber Heard to the court.

Depp is suing the Sun’s parent company, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor Dan Wootton for libel. Depp has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Heard as his lawyers argue that Heard lied when claiming to be abused by Depp.

Text messages

Depp’s previous legal team shared over 70,000 text messages with the Sun’s lawyer.

Depp had allegedly sent a text on November 6, 2013 containing the words “let’s burn Amber” to actor friend Paul Bettany, which was presented before the London high court. Depp also allegedly mentioned wanting to drown Heard before burning her dead body in a later text sent.

Alleged faking of evidence

Depp claims that his ex-wife had faked evidence by painting bruises on her face when she accused him of being violent towards her in 2016, in the US$50 million defamation lawsuit.

“I have denied Ms. Heard’s allegations vehemently since she first made them in May 2016 when she walked into court to obtain a temporary restraining order with painted-on bruises that witnesses and surveillance footage show she did not possess each day of the preceding week. I will continue to deny them for the rest of my life. I never abused Ms. Heard or any other woman,” Depp said in a statement.

Depp claims that Heard abused him instead while she was intoxicated with drugs and alcohol. “There was actual, documented domestic violence in our relationship: She was the perpetrator, and I was the victim. While mixing prescription amphetamines and non-prescription drugs with alcohol, Ms. Heard committed innumerable acts of domestic violence against me, often in the presence of third-party witnesses, which in some instances caused me serious bodily injury,” said Depp.

Depp also disclosed several photos of injuries he claims to have sustained as the result of alleged abuse at the hands of Heard.

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