J ohnny Depp confided in a childhood friend that Amber Heard “likes to hit” in the early part of their relationship, the High Court heard today.

Artist Isaac Baruch, who has known Depp since they were teenagers, claims the actor spoke to him in 2013 about his private life with Heard.

In his evidence to the libel trial, Mr Baruch said Depp had told him: “I don’t know what to do - she likes to argue and she likes to hit.'

Mr Baruch said he pressed for details and was told: “She just wants to argue about stuff all the time and then she'll start hitting me.'

The artist said he was “kind of surprised” by the news, asking if Depp was referring to “playful hitting” but the star continued: “She argues and then she'll just start punching me and wants to fight, I'll try to stop her but she just keeps going to the point where I just stop trying to stop her and say ‘OK, go ahead do your worst, get it out of your system.'

Mr Baruch said Depp added: “I don't know what I'm gonna do, because I'm not gonna hit her, you know me I'm not gonna hit her, I love her.'

Mr Baruch said he told his friend “hitting definitely doesn't sound too healthy”, adding: “You don't have to stay in this relationship if you don't want to. Nothing is written in stone.”

Depp is suing The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers for libel, in a showdown that has picked over his doomed relationship and marriage to actress Amber Heard which ended in 2016.

She claims he was violent to her in drink and drugs-fuelled rages, which Depp insists she is orchestrating a “hoax” and he was the one being abused.

Mr Baruch, who lived rent-free in an LA penthouse complex owned by Depp, insisted he had never seen any injuries on Heard, adding that he knew Depp would sometimes go to his own LA home to seek refuge.

“If they got into a blow-out, that’s where he would go. That was a place he could go”, he said.

Later today, #MeToo activist Katherine Kendall who says she was targeted by disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is due to give evidence.

She was quoted in the 2018 article by The Sun’s executive editor Dan Wootton at the centre of the case, and sent a furious complaint to the newspaper afterwards saying: “I never meant to be in an article that called Johnny Depp a ‘wife beater’”.

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

Yesterday the statements of Depp’s former partners Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder were publicly released, defending the star from claims of violent abuse.

Paradis, an actress and singer who has two children with Depp, said Heard’s claims are “false facts” which have damaged the actor’s career, adding: “I can say he was never violent or abusive to me.”

Ryder, who was engaged to Depp in the early 1990s, added: “The idea that he is an incredibly violent person is the farthest thing from the Johnny I knew and loved.”

The libel trial continues. Heard is scheduled to go into the witness box on Monday.