A mber Heard branded Johnny Depp a “coward” and was screaming hysterically after allegedly severing the star’s fingertip in a blazing row, the actor’s bodyguard claimed.

Malcolm Connolly told the High Court he witnessed the aftermath of the incident in Australia in 2015, when the Pirates of the Caribbean star suffered a gruesome injury and was left needing surgery.

Depp claims Heard was responsible for the injury after throwing a vodka bottle which “exploded” on his hand, while she insists the actor did it to himself in a drink and drugs haze.

Giving evidence to the High Court this morning, Mr Connolly said Depp told him as they left the rented Australian home “Look at my finger. She's cut my f***ing finger off. She's smashed my hand with a vodka bottle.'

The bodyguard, who has worked for Depp and his family for 16 years, said Heard’s claims of the incident “bears no resemblance to my recollection” and said he feared she was going to pelt them with objects as they left.

Mr Connolly said he was ordered to “extract the boss from the situation” in March 2015, arriving to the sound of a “ruckus inside”.

“He and Amber were screaming at each other”, he said. “I shouted at Johnny words to the effect of ‘come with me, you are coming with me’. I then took his arm trying to move him out, but he broke away. I said again words to the effect of ‘Johnny, come with me’. It wasn't easy but I did get him outside.”

Mr Connolly said Depp blamed Heard immediately for the finger injury, and also suggested “she had put a cigarette out on his cheek”, said the security guard. “I could see the mark on his face.”

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

He continued that Heard, wearing a green silk night gown, was “screaming and crying” while calling out: “Are you just going to leave it like this, you f***ing coward?”.

“She was saying ‘I love you, I love you. Is this how you are going to end this?’”, he said.

“She was not making a lot of sense: one second she was begging Johnny not to leave the house and then she was screaming at him for running away.

“She was absolutely hysterical. I was worried that she might start throwing objects at Johnny, or at myself, as I had seen her throw objects before.

“For example, I had seen her lob a fork in Johnny's general direction once; another time I recall she threw a lighter at him; another time a can of coke. I knew that we needed to get out of there as soon as possible.”

Mr Connolly said Depp was “in shock” and panicking, but denied seeing that the star was drunk.

He added that the security team decided to tell doctors that Depp had severed his finger while chopping onions to try to warn off bad publicity, but the medic “didn’t believe us for one second”.

The court also heard that Depp’s head of security Jerry Judge was recorded saying Heard had scratches on her arm after the incident in Australia.

Depp is suing The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers and executive editor Dan Wootton for libel over a 2018 article which dubbed him a “wife beater” / PA

Sasha Wass QC, representing The Sun, said a recording device was left on at the house in Australia, capturing five hours including Depp talking and Judge speaking.

“She has scratches on her left arm that someone told me about”, Mr Judge was heard saying. “I’ve seen those scratches before on a lot of people.”

Ms Wass said Mr Judge – who has since died – may have been suggesting the scratches were self-inflicted.

Connolly insisted he had not seen any marks on Heard’s arm when he “extracted” Depp from the property.

“Jerry Judge had four hours with Amber, I had roughly 30 minutes and had seen her from a distance”, he said.

Asked if he might have missed any scratches, Mr Connolly replied: “No.”

Mr Connolly has said he was told by Depp that the severed finger was Heard's fault.

Heard claims the finger injury came at the end of a “three-day hostage situation” after Depp had subjected her to repeated bouts of violence.

However, Depp - who insists Heard’s allegations of violence are a hoax – called his ex-wife’s account “patently untrue”.

The court has heard how Depp used his wounded finger to daub messages on a mirror, at first with blood and then black paint, which he says happened when he was in the grip of a nervous breakdown.

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

The libel trial continues.