F ilm star Johnny Depp’s friends and aides will take centre stage this week in his High Court showdown with ex-wife Amber Heard and The Sun newspaper.

The 57-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean actor spent four days in the witness box last week in the blockbuster trial, answering questions on his appetite for drug taking, drinking, and allegations of violence.

Today, Depp’s personal assistant Stephen Deuters is due to give evidence as well as a friend of the star who stayed in the same Los Angeles suite of penthouses where Depp lived with Heard during their volatile marriage.

Mr Deuters was present on a private jet flight from Boston to California in 2014 where Depp is accused of kicking Heard in the back, slapping her across the face, and pelting her with ice cubes in a drug and drink haze.

Heard claims Depp was in a “blind rage” and jealous that she had been shooting intimate scenes with actor James Franco, however Depp denies any violence on the flight and insists claims he was “raging like a monster” are untrue.

The star told the court Heard was the one “screaming” at him during the flight, and he decided to go and sleep on the floor of the plane’s bathroom to avoid a confrontation.

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

Also due to give evidence is Isaac Baruch, an artist friend of Depp’s who lived in the penthouse apartment complex where Heard claims she was subjected to violent attacks.

On Friday, the court heard how Depp had arrived late for Heard’s 30th birthday party due to a meeting with his business advisors about his parlous financial position.

Depp said he went to bed to read as Heard was berating him for being late, accusing him of “embarrassing her in front of her friends and for ruining everyone's weekend”.

He denied allegations that he had thrown a bottle of champagne at his wife, thrown her to the ground, and tried to grab hold of her hair.

The court also heard evidence about the final collapse of their marriage in 2016, when Heard says Depp struck her with a phone during a meeting at the penthouse.

Depp denies the allegation, insisting he is the victim of a “hoax” orchestrated by his ex-wife to slur him as a domestic abuser.

Heard had a visible bruise on her cheek when she went to court in May 2016 to obtain a restraining order against Depp and made the first public complaints of domestic violence.

LA Police Department officer Melissa Saenz she said was called out to the penthouse following the alleged telephone attack.

She saw Heard red-eyed, apparently from crying, but told the court she did not see any evidence of injuries to her face.

“Her face was red, it was clear that she was crying, but it did not appear redness as if it would have been from an injury, from my training and experience”, she said.

Mr Justice Nicol asked: “It did not appear that there was injury on her face, is that what you are saying?

Ms Saenz replied: “Correct, no injuries.”

Depp is suing The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers and the paper’s executive editor Dan Wootton for libel, over a 2018 article calling him a “wife-beater”.

The trial continues.