Seven years before filing for a domestic violence restraining order against soon-to-be-ex-husband Johnny Depp, Amber Heard was arrested for perceived violence against her girlfriend in 2009.
Heard got into an “altercation” with Tasya van Ree at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sept. 14, 2009.
READ MORE: New Amber Heard photos allegedly show earlier Johnny Depp abuse
After reportedly grabbing van Ree’s arm, the actress was booked for misdemeanour domestic violence.
Celebrity site TMZ managed to secure some audio from the court proceedings. The prosecutor in the case ultimately decided not to pursue the investigation any further, and reportedly told the twosome that Heard was not off scot-free, and if necessary, van Ree could refile and reconsider the case within the two-year statute of limitations.
Since it’s now 2016 and Heard married since then, obviously the case never went beyond that preliminary court proceeding.
Neither Heard nor her lawyer have commented publicly on the 2009 arrest.
READ MORE: Vanessa Paradis, Johnny Depp’s ex, says he is not physically abusive
Heard was granted a domestic violence restraining order against Depp by a judge after she submitted multiple photos as evidence of assault, one of which purportedly shows the actress with what appears to be a bruise on her right eye. She claims that incident took place on May 21, less than 48 hours before she filed for divorce from Depp.
TMZ reports that Depp allegedly “smashed” his iPhone into Heard’s face, resulting in the bruise. Heard claims that Depp offered her money to stay quiet after he supposedly hit her, but she instead chose to file for divorce.
No official police report was taken when cops responded to a domestic violence call at the couple’s home on May 21 because no crime was reported.
READ MORE: Amber Heard gets restraining order against Johnny Depp, citing domestic violence
Heard also claims to have video of one of the alleged beatings.
Depp’s team has accused Heard of fabricating the abuse in order to make money. The divorcing couple didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement, and Depp is estimated to be worth upwards of US$400 million.
California law stipulates that any divorcing couple without a prenup will divide joint assets in half.
The marriage was Depp’s second and Heard’s first, and the pair has no children together. They met while filming The Rum Diary in 2011, and were married for about 15 months.
Comments