London (AFP)
French artist Vanessa Paradis has supported her ex-husband Johnny Depp in the lawsuits launched by the American actor against the British tabloid The Sun, who had portrayed him as an abusive husband, according to court documents released on Wednesday.
The "Pirate of the Caribbean" star accuses the British newspaper and its owner "News Group Newspapers" of having presented as a proven fact, in an article published in April 2018, that it had hit the woman who was then his wife, American actress Amber Heard.
The couple divorced with a bang in early 2017, just over a year after their marriage. The 34-year-old actress then spoke of "years" of "physical and psychological" violence, which Johnny Depp denies.
Depp's lawyers asked Vanessa Paradis to testify during this trial, which was scheduled to take place in mid-March at the London High Court, but which was postponed until July due to the epidemic of new coronavirus.
"I have known Johnny for over 25 years. We have been together for 14 years and we have raised our two children together," recalled the French actress in written testimony to the proceedings.
"Johnny has been a kind, caring, generous, and nonviolent man and father for all these years," added the one who split from the actor in 2012, shortly before he entered into a relationship. with Mrs. Heard. "He was never violent (...) towards me," she added.
During a videoconference hearing on Wednesday, Depp's lawyers also announced that they wanted to present the testimony of actress Winona Ryder, who had a relationship with the star in the 1990s.
In her statement, Ms. Ryder explained that she "could not understand" the charges brought by Amber Heard against her ex-husband, adding: "He has never, never been violent with me" .
Johnny Depp denies having been violent with Mrs. Heard and has launched another defamation procedure against his ex-wife, which takes place in the United States.
© 2020 AFP