Distressing audio in which Johnny Depp can be heard asking his ex-wife Amber Heard to “cut me” has been played in court as part of his libel trial.
The three-and-a-half-minute recording, believed to be from July 2016, seems to capture Depp saying he will cut himself with a knife.
“Please do not cut yourself”, Heard pleads, and tells him to “put the knife down”.
After asking him to put it down several times, Heard says: “I know you’re in pain, but stop. Please don’t…”
Depp and Heard wave as day four draws to a close
Depp ‘after faeces row with Heard’
Depp replies: “There’s a way for the pain to go away”.
The actor, 57, agreed it was him in the recording.
He was questioned by The Sun’s lawyer, Sasha Wass, this morning, before moving on to his own lawyer David Sherborne this afternoon.
Another notable moment was a return to the “faeces incident” of 2016, when it was alleged human waste was found in the couple’s bed following an argument.
Johnny Depp is pictured arriving at the High Court in London
This was found by their cleaner, who was said to be “unhappy about it”.
Depp alleges the culprit was either Heard, 34, or one of her friends, and dismissed the possibility that it could have been one of their Yorkshire terriers.
The court heard a text exchange between Depp and members of his staff in which he called the incident “the funniest thing he’d ever seen”, and the actor also made references to “Amber in the dumps” and “Amber Turd” in proceedings.
The court was again shown a previously released photo of Heard, appearing to show bruising and redness to her face, allegedly caused when Depp threw a phone at her when discussing the “poo in the bed” incident when he later returned to the flat to pick up “personal belongings”.
Those photos were used as evidence by Heard later that year when she applied to the court for a domestic violence restraining order against Depp.
Today the court also heard mention of several of Depp’s ex-partners, including British supermodel Kate Moss and Vanessa Paradis.
Paradis is expected to give evidence via video link from her home in France towards the end of next week.
Amber Heard arrived at the libel trial wearing a face covering
Paradis has previously said Depp was never violent towards her during their 14-year relationship.
Winona Ryder, who Depp dated for four years, is also expected to appear.
Ryder has previously said she never experienced violence in their relationship.
Heard is due to take the witness stand at the end of next week, however, the court is currently running over by one day, so it’s possible her evidence may be delayed.
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Depp is suing the publishers of The Sun – News Group Newspapers (NGN) – for libel over an article they published which called him a “wife beater”.
However, it is Depp and Heard’s high-profile Hollywood relationship under the microscope – laid bare for all to see.
After four days in the witness box, there were moments today when Depp’s voice failed a little while answering questions, and he looked drained as he left the court.
The case continues on Monday morning, with Depp back in the witness box.