Sunday Times

Heard in court — ‘Johnny has been abusive’

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JOHNNY Depp was hit with a restrainin­g order on Friday after his wife appeared in court with a black eye, accusing the Oscar-nominated star of assaulting her.

Amber Heard, who filed for divorce in Los Angeles this week and is seeking spousal support from the 52year-old Pirates of the

Caribbean star, says she is the victim of repeated attacks by Depp.

Heard submitted pictures to the court showing a bruise on her face that she claims was inflicted during a fight between the couple and said she feared Depp might harm her.

“During the entirety of our relationsh­ip, Johnny has been verbally and physically abusive to me,” she said in an affidavit.

Depp has carved a career as something of a Hollywood rebel — playing in a band, dating supermodel­s, riding his motorbike and adopting the swashbuckl­ing style of his most famous character, Jack Sparrow.

One woman managed to make her mark on Depp: his mother.

Betty Sue Palmer, whose name Depp has tattooed on his arm, took a strong dislike to Heard. The American gossip website TMZ reported that there was significan­t tension between Depp’s family and his wife. He moved his elderly and infirm mother into their home, but she reportedly dismissed Heard as “a terrible person”.

Depp’s two sisters, mother and two teenage children from a 14-year relationsh­ip with French actress Vanessa Paradis are said to have “hated” Heard and would openly discuss this.

His mother, who died on Friday aged 81 after a long illness, also believed the actress was using her son for his money and to further her own career, it was reported.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carl Moor ruled, after reviewing 40 pages of evidence behind closed doors, that Depp was banned from coming within 90m of Heard.

The court order will be reviewed on June 17.

 ?? Picture: AFP PHOTO ?? THINGS FALL APART: Johnny Depp’s short marriage to Amber Heard has imploded
Picture: AFP PHOTO THINGS FALL APART: Johnny Depp’s short marriage to Amber Heard has imploded
 ?? Picture: REUTERS ?? ‘THE EVIDENCE’: Amber Heard
Picture: REUTERS ‘THE EVIDENCE’: Amber Heard

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