The 57-year-old actor is suing the tabloid's publisher News Group Newspapers over an article which called him a "wife beater" and referred to "overwhelming evidence" he attacked Ms Heard, 34, during their relationship, which he strenuously denies.
NGN is defending the article as true and says Mr Depp was "controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Ms Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs" between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split. The court is expected to hear evidence by videolink from Mr Depp's former partners Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder, who both say he was never violent to them, as well as Ms Heard's friends who claim they were present when Mr Depp was abusive.
The trial judge, Mr Justice Nicol, ruled Mr Depp was in breach of a court order to provide documents which have been disclosed in separate libel proceedings against Ms Heard in the US, but said the case should still go ahead. The words "wife beater" were removed from the headline the following morning and were not used in the print edition, but Mr Depp says the article still caused "serious harm to his personal and professional reputation" and "significant distress and embarrassment".
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