Marriages don’t always run smoothly, and even the best matched couples have to work at it. There are times, however, when even one’s best efforts are not enough to make a relationship last. In many cases this results in divorce. For some California residents, divorce may be preceded by allegations of domestic violence.
The recent separation of actor Johnny Depp and his wife, actress Amber Heard, has been widely reported in the media. Most people will, by now, be aware of the allegations that Depp subjected Heard to domestic violence on more than one occasion. This — in and of itself — is shocking enough; however, some sources are now attempting to discredit Heard by harking back to an incident which took place in 2009. At that time, Heard herself was booked on a charge of misdemeanor domestic violence after reportedly grabbing and striking her ex-girlfriend, Tasya van Ree, on the arm.
Depp has, so far, made no public statement about Heard’s claims that he beat her; however, Heard’s testimony and apparent injuries have secured her a temporary restraining order against Depp. It is possible that this story will take more turns before a result is achieved. The whole truth of the matter may never be completely clear to those outside of the relationship.
There are abusers, and there are victims; there are times when one may become the other without even realizing it. Whatever a person’s past actions may have been, it does not justify being subjected to domestic violence, nor may it be used as an excuse for the person committing the abuse. All California residents have the right to live in safety, and those who find themselves at the mercy of a violent spouse are entitled to seek help from a variety of sources in order to find the best ways in which to protect themselves from further harm.
Source: sheknows.com, “If you think abusers deserve to be abused, you’re part of the problem“, Claire Gillespie, June 8, 2016
