Johnny Depp libel case: Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis claim actor was 'never violent' towards them

Stars’ witness statements are being used in Depp’s libel case against The Sun

Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis, who are both ex-girlfriends of Johnny Depp, have claimed the actor was “never violent” towards them.

The pair defended Depp in witness statements they gave as part of his libel claim against The Sun newspaper, after one of its articles referred to him as a “wife-beater”.

The report related to allegations made against Depp by his former wife, Amber Heard, which the actor strenuously denies.

In her witness statement, Paradis described Depp as "kind, attentive, generous and non-violent", while Ryder said she "cannot wrap [her] head around" the allegations of abuse.

Paradis, an actor and singer who has two children with Depp, said: "I have known Johnny for more than 25 years.

"We've been partners for 14 years and we raised our two children together.

"Through all these years I've known Johnny to be a kind, attentive, generous, and non-violent person and father."

She added: "He was never violent or abusive to me."

Ryder, who was in a relationship with the actor in the 1990s, said: "I cannot wrap my head around [Heard's] accusations.

"He was never, never violent towards me. He was never, never abusive at all towards me."

The trial, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, is now set to begin in London on 7 July.

Depp and Heard met on the set of 2011 comedy The Rum Diary, and married in Los Angeles in February 2015.

In May 2016, Heard obtained a restraining order against Depp after her initial accusation of abuse.

The couple settled their divorce out of court in 2017, with Heard donating her $7m (£5.5m) settlement to charity.

Depp made his Instagram debut last month with a lengthy video in which he thanked his fans for their “unwavering support over these years”.