I did not see a single mark on Heard’s face, Depp’s friend tells court

AMBER HEARD’S face looked “natural and normal” the day after an alleged explosive row in which she claims Johnny Depp was violent towards her, an artist friend of the actor told the High Court yesterday.

Isaac Baruch, who has known Mr Depp for 40 years, claimed he was “around 12 inches” from

Ms Heard’s face and did not see “a single mark”.

Mr Baruch is the first witness to give evidence on day nine of Mr Depp’s libel action against News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article that alleged the actor was violent towards ex-wife Ms

Heard, 34, during their tumultuous relationship.

In a written statement submitted to court, Mr Baruch gave his account of his meetings with Ms Heard in the aftermath of an incident on May 21 2016 in which Mr Depp, 57, is alleged to have thrown a phone at the actress and smashed objects at their Los

Angeles penthouse, which he denies.

At the time, Mr Baruch was living in a neighbouring apartment owned by Mr Depp in the Eastern Columbia Building.

Mr Baruch said he saw Ms Heard on May 22 and she told him the Pirates of the Caribbean actor “had come by the night before and got violent” and she was changing the locks to three apartments.

After a conversation with Ms Heard’s friend, Josh Drew, Mr Baruch said he went back to speak to Ms Heard, who told him that Mr Depp “hit her in the face and threw a phone at her”.

His statement said: “I literally was around 12 inches from her, inspecting her face, and I did not see a single mark or evidence of any marks, bruising, or swelling of any kind anywhere on her face.

“She also definitely didn’t seem to be wearing any make-up at this time of day that could cover any marks or swelling.”

Depp is suing NGN and Mr

Wootton over the publication of an article on April 27 2018 with the headline: “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?”

NGN says the article was true and says Mr Depp was “controlling”. The hearing continues.