F ilm star Johnny Depp told the High Court he could not have punched Amber Heard repeatedly in the face as he had a cast on his wounded finger at the time.

The 57-year-old actor suffered a severed fingertip while filming Pirates of the Caribbean in Australia in early March 2015, and needed surgery in Los Angeles for fractures to the end of the exposed bone.

Heard, who claims she suffered repeated bouts of domestic violence during her marriage to Depp, has alleged the star attacked her on March 23, 2015.

Depp told the court this morning he flew back from Australia for surgery to his wounded finger, revealing he contracted “very painful” MRSA from the wound.

“I flew back from Australia to LA to have surgery on the finger. At the time they put a pin in it, in the fractured bone but to no avail”, he said.

“I ended up getting MRSA in it.”

David Sherborne, representing Depp, showed the court a picture of Depp wearing a cast on his hand following the surgery, pointing out the cast had a cartoon dinosaur on it.

“I think I figured since I was wearing this ridiculous cast with a giant finger, I figured I should have the children’s wrap around it to make it more fun”, Depp told the court.

Mr Sherborne pointed out the image was taken on March 18, 2015, five days before Heard accuses Depp of attacking her using both hands.

“Were you wearing the cast on March 23?”, asked the lawyer, and Depp replied: “Yes.”

Sherborne continued: “With the cast on, would you be able to grab her hair with one hand and punch her repeatedly in the head with the other?”

Depp replied that he would not.

The finger injury is one of the disputed incidents in the high-profile libel trial, with Depp claiming the tip was severed when Heard threw a vodka bottle at his during a row.

However Heard claims the star did it himself, during a drink and drugs binge which she has described as a “three-day hostage situation”.

Depp will shortly conclude his evidence, and his friends and aides are then take to the witness box in the libel trial.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 1 /105 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 Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day PA Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case Reuters 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. Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp PA An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor 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

Depp’s personal assistant Stephen Deuters is due to give evidence as well as an artist 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.

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.

The trial continues.