Actor Johnny Depp ordered to provide all Audio recordings of ex-wife Amber Heard and his Medical Records before Libel Trial

Johnny Depp has been ordered by a judge to hand over all audio recordings he has of his former wife Amber Heard and also provide information about his medical records ahead of his High Court libel trial.

During a brief judgement hearing held at the Royal Court of Justice in London on Friday morning, Justice Nicol gave the orders, asking the embattled actor to give up audiotapes of Heard which he has after allegedly recording the two of them discussing their problems. He also ordered Johnny to provide details of his medical history.

Mr Justice Nicol said: ‘By not later than 4 pm on March 10, 2020, the claimant [Depp] is to serve a witness statement setting out the steps that have been undertaken by the claimant and those acting on his behalf to obtain medical records and other documentation relevant to the issues in these proceedings from each of the medical professionals from whom the claimant has received medical treatment.

‘In respect of all recordings, whether made digitally or by any other means, which include the voice of Amber Heard, whether or not they also include the voice of the claimant, the claimant by 4 pm on March 10, 2020, will provide a witness statement verified with a statement of truth from him personally listing all of the recordings within his control. 

‘The claimant must by 4 pm on March 10, 2020, provide the defendants with a copy of the recordings.’

The 56-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean is accused of beating “his wife Amber Heard, causing her to suffer significant injury and on occasion leading to her fearing for her life”.

Depp denies he was addicted to illicit substances, but admits he was hooked on painkillers and has launched counterclaims saying he was actually attacked by Heard.

At a previous hearing, the court heard that the actor allegedly sent threatening text messages during his marriage with Amber Heard saying he would ‘drown’ and ‘burn’ her and then ‘f*** the corpse.’

The unseen 2013 messages were alleged to have been sent by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star, 56, to his actor friend Paul Bettany were readout.  Mr Justice Nicol heard 70,000 text messages were ‘accidentally’ disclosed to the defendants by Mr Depp’s former legal team.

Depp is suing British newspaper The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an article which alleged he had been abusive to his former wife, Amber Heard, 33. He is also suing his estranged wife for $50 million in Northern Virginia for defamation over an op-ed she wrote in the Washington Post in which she called for better support for domestic violence victims like herself, but without naming Depp in the piece.

The full hearing is due to start on March 23.