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       Surgeon disputes Johnny Depp’s account of severed finger fight with Amber Heard

       WARNING: This live blog contains allegations of physical and sexual violence that some readers may find distressing.

       Amber Heard’s defence case continues in the defamation trial brought against her by ex-husband Johnny Depp, with the Pirates of the Caribbean star expected to be questioned again in court later today.

       Heard is being sued by Depp for $50m for implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Although she didn’t name him, he claims her allegations impacted his ability to work. She is pursuing a counterclaim of $100m.

       Testimony has been given by several of Heard’s former friends as well as her sister, acting coach, and makeup artist. They all testified either seeing her injuries or alleged altercations with Depp.

       On Thursday, Depp’s longtime friend spoke of a jealous streak in the actor, while his former agent said he romanticised drugs and constantly showed up late to sets, impacting his career.

       The actor’s ex-business manager described his increasingly dire financial situation and “erratic behaviour” relating to drugs and alcohol. Actor and Depp-ex Ellen Barkin recalled him drinking all the time and once throwing a wine bottle across a room during an argument.

       Recommended Who will testify when Depp v Heard trial resumes? Why the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation trial is being held in Virginia Fan pages, video tributes, and romance rumors: How Johnny Depp’s fandom turned its focus to his lawyer Camille Vasquez Johnny Depp: All the celebrities who have supported the Pirates of the Caribbean star Amber Heard: All the celebrities who have supported the Aquaman star during the defamation trial

       Key points Here’s what attorneys say about the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard so far Heard grilled over alleged attack where Depp sexually assaulted her Heard’s ex-friend cries as she feared ‘monster’ Depp would ‘do something worse than he intended’ Depp showed up late to set on ‘virtually every movie’, former agent says Depp attorney who called Heard’s abuse claims ‘fake’ refuses to answer 75 questions from her team Depp’s ex Ellen Barkin says ‘jealous’ actor threw wine bottle across room in fight Depp attorney says Marilyn Manson video ‘demolished’ Amber Heard’s abuse claims

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       Dr Spiegel’s testimony continues with a discussion of what he inferred from video depositions and other trial materials.

       He says Depp showed some obvious form of cognitive issues that shouldn’t happen to someone of his age and that this is likely due to his drug and alcohol use.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 16:12

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       Dr Spiegel says he requested to interview Depp twice but was turned down.

       He talks about Depp’s excessive use of drugs and alcohol and is asked if he believes it impairs his ability to perform as an actor. Dr Spiegel says he is aware of Depp using an earpiece for lines and saying that he did a movie “entirely wasted”.

       He says he believes Depp’s “thinking rate” is down and his attention and memory are impaired.

       Dr Spiegel testifies that we all get angry as people and we all think things about people, but he says the difference is that people whose brains are intact and acting well, do not act out those thoughts. Substance abuse makes people disinhibited and therefore can lead to intimate partner violence.

       The court breaks for the mid-morning recess and will resume at 11am.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 15:45

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       Dr Spiegel testifies that Depp has behaviours consistent with substance use disorder and those of someone who perpetrates intimate partner violence. He emphasises that this is repetitive behaviour.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 15:41

       1653315373 New witness: Dr David Spiegel, board-certified psychiatrist

       The next witness to testify is Dr David Spiegel, a board-certified psychiatrist based in Virginia, who is being brought in as an expert witness.

       He has treated thousands of patients and says as many as 75 per cent have substance abuse problems. He also says he has a great deal of experience on the subject of intimate partner violence.

       Dr Spiegel is being questioned by Elaine Bredehoft who moves to put him forward as an expert in the case. Depp’s team objects and questions him about his experience in intimate partner violence.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 15:16

       1653314335 Surgeon says Depp’s account of severed finger ‘inconsistent’ with injury

       Johnny Depp’s account of a fight with Amber Heard during which his finger was severed has been disputed by an expert witness.

       Dr Richard Moore, an orthopaedic surgeon from Wilmington, North Carolina told the court on Monday that Mr Depp’s account of the fight in which he says his finger was cut off when Ms Heard threw a vodka bottle at him is “not consistent with what we see in the described injury pattern or the clinical photographs”.

       Gustaf Kilander reports.

       Johnny Depp’s account of severed finger fight with Amber Heard disputed by surgeon Johnny Depp’s account of a fight with Amber Heard during which his finger was severed has been disputed by an expert witness.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 14:58

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       On redirect, Heard’s lawyer Ben Rottenborn asks if anything presented to Dr Moore on cross-examination has changed his opinion in the case.

       Dr Moore replies: “No.”

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 14:53

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       During cross-examination, Dr Moore says he did not examine Depp or perform any surgery on his hand.

       He concedes that he cannot identify the object that impacted Depp’s finger nor entirely rule out that it was caused by a vodka bottle.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 14:41

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       Graphic photos of Depp’s finger injury are again shown to the jury as well as x-rays.

       Dr Moore notes that there were no shards of glass documented by medical staff, nor other injuries to the hand that might be expected from a bottle that had impacted a finger and exploded.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 14:28

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       Dr Moore says he reviewed documents and testimony regarding Depp’s finger injury from the Australia incident in 2015.

       He testifies that Depp’s finger injury was not caused by a thrown vodka bottle as the actor says.

       Dr Moore says clinical records are inconsistent with Depp’s story as it would be a crush injury which was not evident. He also notes that the fingernail was not impacted and the tissue loss is on the underside of the finger.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 14:20

       1653311296 New Witness: Dr Richard Moore, orthopaedic surgeon

       The first witness of the day is Dr Richard Moore, an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in hand surgery and based in Wilmington, North Carolina.

       He is appearing in-person.

       Oliver O'Connell 23 May 2022 14:08

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