Johnny Depp is given four days to hand over all audio recordings

Johnny Depp was today ordered to hand over all audio recordings he has of his former wife Amber Heard and give further information about his medical records ahead of his High Court libel trial.

The 56-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean star allegedly beat Heard, 33, in drug-fuelled rampages as their marriage soured.

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

The judge, Mr Justice Nicol ordered Depp to provide details of how he has made his medical history available.

The embattled actor has also been told he must give up audio tapes of Heard which he has after allegedly recording the two of them discussing their problems.

Depp was not present at the brief judgement hearing held at the Royal Court of Justice in London this morning as the judge ruled Heard could give evidence.

Mr Justice Nicol said: ‘By not later than 4pm 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 4pm 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 4pm on March 10, 2020 provide the defendants with a copy of the recordings.’

Depp will not have to disclose text messages allegedly sent from his phone about Heard.

The court heard he sent messages to a friend reading: ‘Let’s burn Amber!’ and ‘Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I’ll f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she’s dead’.

These will not be part of the trial expected to start later this month after the judge ruled though the text had been mentioned at earlier stages of the case they had not been produced on request.

Further legal documents concerning the divorce of Depp from Heard in January 2017 must also be provided by the actor. 

Depp is suing The Sun and Dan Wootton, a columnist for the newspaper, over articles which he claims are libellous and damaged his reputation in the industry.

He claims articles from April 27 and 28 published by The Sun state he was guilty of serious domestic violence against his former wife leaving her fearing for her life.

Depp also argues the articles caused him to be made the subject of a court restraining order damaging his ability to work in the film industry.

Additionally, he claims his was forced to pay £5million to compensate her. The trial is expected to last ten days and will start on March 23.