F ilm star Johnny Depp was a “hopeless addict” who could not control his anger and may not even remember beating up wife Amber Heard due to drug and alcohol abuse, the High Court has heard.

The actor, 57, is suing for libel over an article in The Sun which called him a “wife beater”, insisting he was never violent in his relationship with Heard.

Sasha Wass QC, for The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN), argued 14 incidents of violence by Depp had been proved over the course of a three-week trial, saying the star’s reliance on drink and drugs may have impaired his memory and ability to control “the monster” within.

She said the court has been presented with “a wealth” of evidence of a “hopeless addict, who repeatedly lost his self-control and all ability to restrain his anger”.

“The article complained of in this defamation action referred to Mr Depp as a wife beater”, Ms Wass said, setting out her closing arguments. “The defence is one of truth, namely Mr Depp did indeed beat his wife.

“For the defence of truth to be substantiated, the defendants needs to prove on the balance of probabilities, Mr Depp assaulted Ms Heard on at least one occasion.

“During the last two weeks, the defendant has established many more than one occasion of wife-beating taking place over the course of the relationship between the claimant and Amber Heard.

“The evidence of the claimant’s drug and alcohol-fuelled lifestyle provided the background to the events in question. The relevance of substance abuse by Mr Depp is two-fold – firstly it demonstrates the claimant is subject to irrational mood swings and abnormal behavioural patterns which would not have been present when Mr Depp was clean and sober.

“Mr Depp has a name for the metamorphosed entity, namely the monster.

“Mr Depp’s recollection of his own disgraceful conduct was so severely impaired by drug misuse that he may not even have been aware of the violence and terrifying behaviour which on more than one pleaded incident put Ms Heard in fear of her life.”

Ms Wass argued that the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, should find Heard was a truthful witness, and her testimony alone would be enough to find that Depp was violent.

But she added that a “wealth of supporting evidence” has also been presented, including Depp’s own alleged admissions of losing control while on drugs.

The libel claim comes from a 2018 article by executive editor Dan Wootton which called author JK Rowling a “Hollywood hypocrite” for standing by the casting of Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

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

“Overwhelming evidence was filed to show Johnny Depp engaged in domestic violence against Amber Heard”, he wrote.

The blockbuster High Court battle has picked over competing claims from Heard and Depp’s doomed relationship, after she identified 14 occasions when she says she was attacked by the star.

Heard, 34, the star of Aquaman, says she was first struck by Depp in early 2013 when she laughed at his ‘Wino Forever’, she claims he kicked her in the back on a private jet flight, left her with two black eyes and broken nose when she was due to appear on the Late Late Show with James Corden in 2015, and threw a bottle of wine at her after her 30th birthday party.

Heard said she was also subjected to a “three-day hostage situation” in Australia when Depp was filming Pirates of the Caribbean 5, claiming he threw bottles at her “like grenades” and pinned her to a glass-strewn counter.

Depp denies all the allegations, insisting that Heard has orchestrated a “hoax” against him and she was the violent abuser in the relationship.

David Sherborne, for Depp, is expected to argue the actor’s case tomorrow, with the judge delivering a judgment at a later date.

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The trial continues.