FAIRFAX, Va. — Actor Johnny Depp took the stand Tuesday in his libel lawsuit towards his ex-wife Amber Heard, saying her home abuse allegations towards him have been disturbing, heinous and “not primarily based in any species of fact.”

“Nothing of the type ever occurred,” Depp stated in court docket.

He added: “By no means did I personally attain the purpose of putting Ms. Heard in any method. Nor have I ever struck any girl in my life.”

Depp added that he is involved for his youngsters and the individuals who have believed in him.

“I’m obsessive about the reality,” Depp stated. “So right now is definitely my first alternative that I have been ready to talk about this case.”

Amber Heard’s former assistant testifies that she by no means noticed Johnny Depp bodily abuse the actress

The trial started greater than per week in the past, however, previous to Tuesday, jurors had solely seen the Hollywood star sitting silently along with his workforce of legal professionals as both sides has tried to embarrass the opposite in a trial that Heard’s legal professionals precisely predicted would flip right into a mudslinging cleaning soap opera.

Thus far, Depp’s pals, household and staff have testified that Heard was the aggressor within the relationship, bodily attacking him on a number of events. Heard’s former private assistant testified that Heard spit in her face in a match of rage.

In the meantime, jurors have seen textual content messages through which Depp makes use of vulgar language to explain Heard and spells out his want to get revenge towards her. Heard’s legal professionals have stated he bodily and sexually assaulted her on a number of events, usually in conditions the place he drank a lot he later blacked out.

The lawsuit itself is meant to be over whether or not Heard libeled Depp when she wrote a 2018 op-ed piece in The Washington Publish about home violence. Within the article, Heard referred to herself as a “public determine representing home abuse.”

She by no means talked about Depp by identify, however Depp and his legal professionals say it is a clear reference to accusations Heard made in 2016 when the couple divorced and he or she sought a restraining order towards him.

Heard’s legal professionals, who’ve filed their very own countersuit towards Depp, say nothing within the article libels him. They are saying the abuse allegations are true, and that the harm to Depp’s popularity – which he says bought him booted from the profitable “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise – got here from his personal unhealthy conduct.

Depp’s testimony is predicted to stretch into Wednesday. Heard is scheduled to testify later within the trial.