Johnny Depp’s text messages about his alleged drug use were the center of attention at a hearing in London on Thursday as the actor prepares for a courtroom confrontation with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. the pirates of the Caribbean Star, 57, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), owner of the Sun, in a 2018 article that called him a “handcuff puncher.” Depp has flatly denied that he had abused Heard, 34, during their relationship. A test date was set for July 7.
At Thursday’s pre-trial hearing, the Sun Yahoo Entertainment learned that the High Court requested that Depp’s defamation claim be dismissed due to “serious deficiencies” in the actor’s disclosure of evidence. The judgment is reserved. NGN attorney Adam Wolanski QC said Depp “deliberately withheld text messages” that showed that he had been in possession, taking and acquiring drugs, such as MDMA and cocaine, while in Australia in 2015, and that they recently obtained the messages. .
Wolanski argued that “failure to disclose them in this case is a clear violation” of a previous court order requiring Depp to turn over all separate defamation documents against Heard in the US Depp is suing Aquaman star for $ 50 million for defamation for an op-ed piece he wrote in the Washington Post about being a victim of domestic abuse.
Heard’s abuse allegations include that she was attacked during a “three-day trial” in Australia, when Depp allegedly also cut off her finger and wrote bloody messages on the walls. Heard, who is allowed to give evidence of NGN, stated that Depp was “crazy” since he had taken large amounts of MDMA, cocaine and alcohol. She claims that both verbal and physical abuse would happen when Depp was drunk or high, which was prevalent. He has denied this.
“Australia’s drug texts, at first glance, show that [Johnny] at least he was looking to get such drugs from [his assistant] in late February and early March 2015, and in all likelihood I had obtained and taken them, ”Wolanski said, according to PA Media.
In the text messages, Depp allegedly asked his assistant for more “happy pills” and “whitish things.” David Sherborne, Depp’s UK lawyer, did not deny the validity of the messages, but argued that it had nothing to do with the trial.
Depp provided a statement to the Superior Court and admitted that he has had “challenges” with drugs and alcohol, but maintained that he never abused Heard.
“I have been open about my challenges with alcoholism and addiction throughout my life,” Depp shared. In fact, I started drinking and taking drugs when I was still a child. I am in no way ashamed to say this. “
Depp said his “addiction over the years has been to Roxicodone pills, which are often referred to as ‘Roxies’ and which is one of the brands for oxycodone, which is a prescription painkiller for opioids.”
“I took other drugs in my life and took other drugs during the course of our relationship, but I never suffered from addiction to those drugs. Nor did any drug or alcohol compel me to commit violence against anyone, “he continued.
Depp also allegedly told the court that he and Heard “took drugs together,” including MDMA, magic mushrooms, and cocaine, but that “these were not common occurrences.”
The actor’s attorney said NGN “has lost focus on what this claim is about and what the claimant has admitted, frankly, in its evidence.”
“The full trial of these terrible accusations, published in the Sun newspaper for millions of people, it is of great importance to Mr. Depp, “Sherborne said.” It is time for the defendants to defend the allegations that they published to millions of readers of their newspaper, and in which they have persisted publicly for two years of litigation. “
Depp is said to be traveling from France to London for next month’s trial, while Heard is believed to be coming from California. The actors met on the set of 2011. Rum diary and they were married in 2015. They separated in 2016 and Heard went public with their abuse claims.
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: