Johnny Depp was ‘hopeless addict’ whose ‘deep misogyny’ led to violent rages, Sun’s lawyer tells court

Actor’s substance abuse, jealousy and anger allegedly made him danger to his partner, libel trial hears

Johnny Depp’s alleged violent rages against ex-wife Amber Heard stemmed from a “deep misogyny”, lawyers for The Sun have told the High Court.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publishers of The Sun, and the tabloid’s executive editor Dan Wootton over a 2018 article that called him a “wife beater”.

In closing submissions as the libel trial comes to an end, Sasha Wass QC, representing NGN, described the actor as a “hopeless addict” whose substance abuse, jealousy and anger made him a danger to his partner.

Ms Wass claimed Depp – who did not attend court on Monday – assaulted ex-wife Heard, an actor and model, and used abusive language about women.

She said his excessive drug-taking led to uncontrolled outbursts during which he would metamorphose into a violent alter ego he called “The Monster”, and that his own memories of the extent of his behaviour were impaired by drugs and alcohol.

Citing texts and emails in which Depp had used words like “whore”, “slut” or “worthless hooker” about Heard and other women, Ms Wass said he was far from being the “southern gentleman” on which he had told the court he modelled himself.

She quoted from texts he had sent in 2013 to actor Paul Bettany, in which Depp allegedly wrote about Heard: “Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead.”

Ms Wass accused Depp of “deep misogyny” and said jealousy of Heard’s supposed other partners was the catalyst of many violent episodes.

“Mr Depp has sought to deploy the more old-fashioned methods used to discredit women. She is a gold-digger, a shrew and an adulterer,” the lawyer said.

Amber Heard and girlfriend Bianca Butti, left, arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice, London, on 27 July (Gareth Cattermole/Getty) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Earlier in the trial, Depp claimed Heard’s domestic abuse allegations were a “hoax” built up over years as an “insurance policy”.

Ms Wass read from an email, described as a “critical piece of evidence”, that Heard had sent to herself in 2013, before the couple were married, in which she recorded her feelings about Depp’s drug-fuelled rages. The email was addressed to Depp but not sent to him.

“You have hit me repeated. Something you should never have done ... and none of this would be possible without the booze and drugs. NONE,” Heard wrote.

Depp denies 14 allegations of violence against Heard.

His lawyer, David Sherborne, is due to make his own closing arguments on Tuesday. A ruling is not expected immediately.

Additional reporting by Reuters