A ctress Amber Heard today faced a bombshell new claim that she had been violent towards own sister, after a video emerged said to show bruises from the alleged attack.

The star’s younger sister Whitney Henriquez told the High Court yesterday she had seen Heard punch Johnny Depp in the face but insisted it was a defensive action against the out-of-control actor.

She insisted she was not “frightened” of Heard, and denied ever being on the receiving end of any violence.

This morning, Depp’s lawyer David Sherborne accused Ms Henriquez of lying and said his team had received a video overnight which they say undermines her evidence.

“After she gave evidence yesterday, one of my team was contacted by an individual on the basis of being kept confidential”, he said.

“We were contacted to explain Amber Heard has a history of violence and attacking people. The video which was attached is of sister Whitney Heard, taken shortly after Amber Heard had attacked her.

“Whitney Heard is filmed with people commenting on bruises on her face and body.”

Ms Henriquez, referred to by her maiden name of Heard by Mr Sherborne, was ordered to stand outside court so she did not hear this morning’s exchange, while her actress sister in the public gallery was urged to “refrain from using her mobile phone”.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 1 /106 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on the first day .Jeremy Selwyn Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on the first day PA Johnny Depp on the first day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN) AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard with her sister Whitney Heard on the first day Johnny Depp's libel case PA Johnny Depp wearing a face covering AFP via Getty Images) Johnny Depp (right) being cross-examined by Sasha Wass QC (left) before the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, at the High Court on 7 July PA Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case Reuters Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day PA AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images Johnny Depp (L) arrives on the third day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July Reuters Photo showing Amber Heard injury alleged to have been caused by Johnny Depp An image Heard said was taken after this incident, showing a bruise on her arm. An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp PA Amber Heard and Bianca Butti leave the Royal Courts of Justice on 9 July Getty Images Amber Heard (R) arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July AP Amber Heard arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp photo spilt ice cream photo referred to in court Amber Heard American actor Johnny Depp gestures to the media as he arrives at the High Court on 13 July AP Amber Heard's pet teacup Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA One of the pictures shown in court Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 14 July PA Johnny Depp with injuries allegedly sustained from Amber Heard during an incident in Los Angeles PA Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London on 20 July Elizabeth Cook/PA Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 20 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Monday where she is due to give evidence against former husband Johnny Depp on 20 July PA Amber Heard image which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court on 20 July PA Johnny Depp arrives at Royal Courts of Justice on 21 July Getty Images Amber Heard with a bruising on her face, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA Amber Heard being cross examined by Eleanor Laws QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London during a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Amber Heard with a friend, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Video deposition of Amber Heard in US proceedings, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court PA Johnny Depp with a cast on his hand PA Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July PA Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 22 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July Reuters Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July REUTERS Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July Getty Images Amber Heard with her girlfriend Bianca Butti arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS PA AFP via Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images AFP via Getty Images SplashNews.com PA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images REUTERS SplashNews.com REUTERS

Mr Sherborne launched a bid to deploy the new video in evidence, seeking to question Ms Henriquez once more on the issue of her sister’s alleged violence.

“The material, we say, demonstrates Whitney Heard lied yesterday”, he said. “It goes to the issue of whether or not Ms Heard was violent.”

Ms Henriquez was at the centre of an incident in March 2015 at the penthouse in Los Angeles shared by Depp and Heard during their relationship.

She and Heard, 34, both claim Depp had been drinking when he tried to attack them, throwing objects across the room and pursuing them up the stairs.

“When he got to the top of the stairs, he was pulling me backwards so he could get to Amber”, she said. “I remember being scared because I was worried that I would fall backwards and fall down the stairs. “Johnny reached out to shove me out of the way to lunge at Amber – reaching out to try hit Amber – and instead struck me, hitting me in the arm.

“Amber suddenly lurched forward and hit him and said ‘don’t hit my sister’.”

Heard told the court earlier this week she had thrown the punch to defend her sister, and at that moment recalled a rumour that Depp had once pushed supermodel Kate Moss down a flight of stairs while they were dating.

Depp denied all allegations of violence, insisting Heard is orchestrating a hoax against him and she was the violent one in the relationship. His legal team say the March 2015 punch bolsters his case.

In court yesterday, Eleanor Laws QC, for Depp, paused her cross-examination of Ms Henriquez to ask: “Is there a reason why you keep looking up to the public gallery, to your sister, during the evidence?”

Ms Henriquez replied: “No.”

The actor arriving at the High Court on Friday / PA

She also denied being “frightened” or “wary” of her sister, answering: “Not at all - I’m not afraid of my sister.”

Depp, 57, is suing the publishers of The Sun, News Group Newspapers, for libel over a 2018 article by executive editor Dan Wootton which called the star a “wife beater”.

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Mr Justice Nicol is due to watch the fresh video evidence later today and then decide if Ms Henriquez can be quizzed about it. Sasha Wass QC, for The Sun, said she had not seen the clip or told about the bid to use it in advance.

The trial continues.