In Hollywood star Johnny Depp's defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, the actress failed with a motion to dismiss Depp's lawsuit.

Judge Penney Azcarate ruled on Tuesday that there was sufficient evidence to warrant a continuation of the trial in Fairfax, Virginia.

A psychologist, meanwhile, testified on the witness stand that Heard suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of Depp's alleged violence.

After Depp's lawyers had concluded the evidence, Heard's lawyers asked that the Hollywood star's lawsuit be dismissed as unfounded.

Depp failed to prove that Heard slandered him in an article published in the Washington Post at the end of 2018.

At the time, the "Aquaman" actress had described herself as a victim of domestic violence without naming the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star.

"There is no disputing that he did in fact abuse Amber," said Heard's attorney, Ben Rottenborn.

However, Judge Azcarate stated that sufficient points had been made in the ongoing process to justify the continuation of the process.

Ultimately, the jury would have to decide the evidence.

Requests to dismiss a case are common in the US, even while a case is ongoing.

They are rarely successful.

Depp has sued Heard, to whom he was married between 2015 and 2017, for $50 million in damages.

He accuses the 36-year-old of having seriously damaged his career with false allegations of domestic violence.

Heard has responded with a counterclaim against the 58-year-old, demanding $100 million in damages.

She accuses him of "unbridled physical violence".

The process has been going on for three weeks

The trial between Depp and Heard in Fairfax near the capital Washington began three weeks ago.

Depp and numerous witnesses invited by his lawyers have already testified in the process.

On Tuesday, Heard's attorneys began questioning their own witnesses.

The actress herself is also expected to testify this week.

Clinical and forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes testified in court Tuesday that she used four separate tests to reliably diagnose Heard with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of her relationship with Depp.

Depp tortured her with "obsessive" jealousy and control and apparently did physical and sexual "violence" to her.

Depp Heard "shoved," slapped, "choked," bumped into a wall, and kicked her in the back.

Depp said he never hit Heard.

Rather, Heard had become violent several times.

Psychologist Shannon Curry, presented as a witness by Depp's lawyers, had told her colleague Hughes that she had not diagnosed Heard with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Rather, the 36-year-old suffers from a borderline personality and a so-called histrionic personality disorder, i.e. pathologically egocentric and manipulative behavior.

Hughes, in turn, rejected this diagnosis.