A psychologist has advised jurors that actress Amber Heard suffered from post-traumatic stress dysfunction due to bodily and sexual abuse by the hands of former husband and Hollywood star Johnny Depp.
Dawn Hughes testified on Tuesday that she had recognized Heard after inspecting her for 29 hours and reviewing remedy information, and that she had concluded that Depp engaged in a “high degree of violence”, experiences ‘Variety’.
Hughes recounted quite a few situations of alleged sexual violence, which she mentioned had been motivated by Depp’s “obsessive jealousy” and a need to present dominance.
Hughes was the primary witness known as by Heard’s attorneys, as they started their defence in a $50 million defamation trial.
They are in search of to counter the picture offered by Depp’s attorneys, who portrayed Heard because the abuser of their relationship, and maintained that Depp would retreat at any time when she instigated fights.
“When Mr. Depp was drunk or high, he threw her on bed, ripped off her nightgown and tried to have sex with her,” Hughes testified.
Hughes additionally referenced incidents through which Depp allegedly penetrated Heard together with his fingers and, on one event, with a bottle.
She mentioned Depp confirmed specific jealousy relating to James Franco, with whom he believed Heard was having a relationship.
“These incidents often happened in a drug-fuelled rage,” she mentioned.
Heard is anticipated to give a fuller account of the alleged abuse when she takes the witness stand on Wednesday.
Hughes was known as to rebut the testimony of Shannon Curry, a psychologist known as by Depp’s crew final week, who advised the jury that Heard suffered from borderline persona dysfunction.
Curry examined Heard for 12 hours on Depp’s behalf, and testified that Heard was susceptible to give “overly dramatic” statements and was “full of rage.”
Hughes mentioned she disagreed with Curry’s analysis.
She mentioned, in her examination, Heard’s signs had been according to a sufferer of intimate accomplice violence. Hughes additionally famous that Heard had suffered from parental abuse as a toddler, and carried over a few of these dynamics in her relationship with Depp.
“She also believed she could fix him, just like she tried to fix her father,” Hughes mentioned.
“She truly believed she could fix Mr. Depp and rid him of his substance abuse problems, but that did not work.”
Hughes additionally testified that Depp exerted “coercive control” over Heard, and was targeted on controlling her profession.
“‘Ambition’ was a weaponised term in that relationship,” Hughes mentioned.
Curry additionally testified that Heard suffered from histrionic persona dysfunction, which she mentioned was marked by “drama and shallowness,” and “extreme discomfort with not being the center of attention.” Curry additionally said that Heard didn’t endure from PTSD.
Depp’s aspect offered testimony from a {couples} therapist, Laurel Anderson, who mentioned they engaged in “mutual abuse.”
Hughes argued that whereas each events might have interaction in verbal or bodily abuse, it’s additionally essential to take a look at the stability of energy within the relationship.
“What the research talks about very clearly is you have to examine context”, Hughes mentioned. “You have to examine the differential of power and control — and coercive control — in the relationship to make a full determination.”
In a pre-trial movement, Heard’s attorneys sought to have an unbiased psychological examination of Depp. Depp’s attorneys opposed that movement, arguing that Depp’s psychological state shouldn’t be at concern. The decide denied the movement.