Amber Heard suffers from post-traumatic stress, says expert

A “definitive diagnosis”.

actor's defamation lawsuit

against his ex-wife.

Johnny Depp displayed an "obsession with control" and "obsessive jealousy" throughout their "very volatile" relationship, Dawn Hughes added.

A clinical and forensic psychologist, she was the first witness called by the lawyers of the 36-year-old actress in this trial, which began three weeks ago in Fairfax court, near Washington.

"Physical violence and assault"

Johnny Depp, 58, says his ex-wife ruined his reputation and career after he wrote an op-ed in the

in which she claimed to have been the victim of domestic violence in 2016, without quoting her ex-husband .

He is seeking $50 million in damages.

The actor, who testified for four days, denies having ever raised a hand on his ex-wife, assuring that it was she who was violent.

Amber Heard has counterattacked and demanded 100 million dollars, claiming to have suffered "physical violence and assault" since their meeting in 2009 and during their tumultuous marriage which lasted only two years, from 2015 to 2017. In 2016 , she had sued her husband for domestic violence before dropping these charges during the divorce proceedings.

Dr. Hughes explained to the jurors that she had made a “definitive diagnosis” of post-traumatic stress after four tests with Amber Heard demonstrating, according to her, “violence from her partner in this relationship”.

Her findings contradict those of another psychology expert, Shannon Curry, who claimed last week that the

actress suffered from personality disorders and had "grossly exaggerated" the PTSD symptoms she said she suffered from.

According to Dr. Hughes, Amber Heard spoke of "physically violent behavior" and "acts of sexual violence".

"He pushed, shoved, slapped him with his back and the palm of his hand," she said.

“He strangled her, pushed her against a wall, pushed her and she fell.

He kicked him in the back.

»

Enough evidence to pursue the lawsuit for defamation

Her testimony is due to continue on Wednesday and Amber Heard is due to take the stand this week.

Previously, his lawyers had unsuccessfully asked the judge, Penney Azcarate, to dismiss Johnny Depp's complaint, which they said had not provided proof of defamation.

"The court should accept this motion to quash because of the compelling evidence that he was, in fact, the one who assaulted Amber," said the actress' attorney, Ben Rottenborn.

This request, usual in the American legal system, is rarely granted and Judge Azcarate considered that there were enough elements to continue the lawsuit.

A shortfall of 40 million dollars

Specializing in accounting operations and the last witness called by Johnny Depp's lawyers, Mike Spindler estimated on Tuesday morning that the actor had suffered a shortfall of approximately $40 million following the publication of the editorial, in particular by being excluded from the saga of the Pirates in 2019 by the Disney studios.

The star's fees had exceeded 30 million dollars in 2017, his agent had estimated the day before.

In April 2018, the British tabloid

accused Johnny Depp of being "an abusive husband".

The actor sued the newspaper and lost in a trial that exposed his drug and alcohol abuse.

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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's therapist says couple were in 'mutually abusive' relationship

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