Johnny Depp testifies that ex-wife bullied him, turned violent

Actor Johnny Depp, testifying on Wednesday in a $50 million defamation case against his former wife Amber Heard, said she was the one who became violent when their relationship soured, hurling insults that at times escalated into a slap or a shove.

Afterdetailing their early romance during testimony on Tuesday, Depp returned to thewitness stand in a Virginia court and said Heard's behaviour changed. Thecouple had frequent arguments that included "demeaning name calling"and "bullying" by her, Depp said.

"Itseemed like pure hatred for me," Depp said. "If I stayed to argue,eventually, I was sure it was going to escalate into violence, and oftentimesit did."

Asked todescribe the violence, Depp said Heard would "strike out."

"It couldbegin with a slap. It could begin with a shove. It could begin with throwing aTV remote at my head. It could be throwing a glass of wine in my face,"Depp said.

"Shehas a need for conflict. She has a need for violence," Depp added."It erupts out of nowhere."

Heard"would tell me what a bad father I was, that I had no idea how toparent," said Depp, who has two children from a previous relationship.

Depp said hewould remove himself from the situation, sometimes locking himself in thebathroom, and never struck Heard. "In all of these situations, my maingoal was to retreat," he said.

"ThePirates of the Caribbean" star, 58, is suing Heard, 35, for defamationafter she accused him of abuse.

Depp hasaccused Heard, also an actor, of defaming him when she penned a December 2018opinion piece in the Washington Post about being a survivor of domestic abuse.He filed a $50 million lawsuit against Heard in 2018.

The articlenever mentioned Depp by name, but Depp lawyer Benjamin Chew told jurors a week agothat it was clear Heard was referencing the Hollywood leading man.

Attorneysfor Heard have argued that she told the truth and that her opinion was protectedas free speech under the US Constitution's First Amendment. In openingarguments, Heard's attorneys said Depp physically and sexually assaulted herwhile abusing drugs and alcohol.

A statecourt judge in Fairfax County, Virginia, is overseeing the trial, which is inits second week and is expected to last six weeks.

Less thantwo years ago, Depp lost a libel case against The Sun, a British tabloid thatlabeled him a "wife beater." A London High Court judge ruled he hadrepeatedly assaulted Heard and put her in fear for her life.

Depp'slawyers have said they filed the case in Fairfax County, a suburb of the UScapital, because the Washington Post is printed at a facility there. TheWashington Post is not a defendant in the case.

The UnitedStates is a difficult forum for libel plaintiffs, especially public figureslike Depp, who must prove by clear and convincing evidence that Heard knowinglymade false claims.

Heard, knownfor roles in "Aquaman" and "Justice League," has broughther own libel claim against Depp, saying he smeared her by calling her a liar.

Heard'scounterclaim, seeking $100 million in damages, will be decided as part of thetrial.