Halle Berry’s son testifies for nearly four hours in tense custody battle with Olivier Martinez
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The 13-year-old son of Halle Berry and her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, testified for nearly four hours on Monday, October 19, during a court hearing concerning a request for a domestic violence restraining order.
The hearing took place at Los Angeles Superior Court, where Berry appeared with her legal team and fiancé, Van Hunt, while Martinez arrived with Maceo and his lawyers.
Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s son testifies in court
Judge Shelley Kaufman began the hearing by calling Maceo to the stand. She ordered everyone else out of the courtroom to ensure the teenager’s testimony remained sealed. Maceo, dressed casually in a graphic T-shirt, shorts and Crocs, testified for nearly four hours.
During lunch, the teenager appeared comfortable and happy as he spoke with his father before returning to the stand. He did not interact with his mother while at court.
Martinez, 60, appeared to glare at Berry upon arriving at court, and she returned the look inside the courtroom.
Berry seemed to be in good spirits, although she appeared worried and anxious at times. Eyewitnesses described the hearing as “icy.”
Martinez’s lawyer, Patrick Baghdaserians, exclusively told Page Six, “Olivier is a great, loving father. He is very caring and only wants the best for his son.”
The hearing is ongoing and may continue on Tuesday, October 20.
Although Berry strongly opposed Maceo’s involvement in the case, Judge Kaufman ruled that he would be allowed to testify, limiting his testimony to the claims made in his father’s restraining order request.
Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s custody battle intensifies
Martinez was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry, also 60, on October 1 after alleging that she attacked their son during an incident on September 26.
The French actor alleged that Berry choked Maceo following an argument over virtual reality goggles.
Martinez accused the 'Monster’s Ball' star of calling their son “such an idiot” for playing a game on the headset.
He also alleged that there had been multiple instances of abuse over the previous year and a half. He requested sole legal and physical custody of Maceo, following which the judge restricted Berry’s contact with the teenager and limited her visitation rights.
Berry has vehemently denied the allegations. Her daughter, Nahla Aubry, 18, echoed her mother’s stance in a court declaration, stating she was “shocked” by the claims and had never seen Berry act aggressively toward her half-brother.
Berry asked the judge to deny Martinez’s restraining order request, lift the temporary restrictions and reinstate 50-50 custody.
She also sought to retain her authority to make final decisions about Maceo’s education and mental health treatment when the parents disagreed.
The Oscar winner accused Martinez of escalating their bitter custody dispute, interfering with Maceo’s educational and therapeutic needs, and turning their son against her.
She added that she had historically been the parent responsible for enforcing discipline and pursuing behavioral intervention.
Berry and Martinez married in July 2013 and separated in 2015. They were declared legally single in December 2016 before finalizing their divorce in August 2023.
