Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s son Maceo has given nearly four hours of testimony in a Los Angeles court amid serious allegations against the actress, which she firmly denies.
Halle Berry is facing one of the most challenging moments of her personal life as her ongoing legal dispute with former husband Olivier Martinez takes another dramatic turn. The 60-year-old Hollywood actress attended a hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Court, where their 13-year-old son, Maceo, reportedly spent almost four hours giving evidence in connection with a domestic violence restraining order requested by his father. The proceedings have attracted considerable attention, particularly as Berry continues to deny the allegations made against her.
The legal battle intensified following an alleged incident on 26 September at the actress’s home. Olivier Martinez has accused Halle Berry of physically assaulting their son and attempting to strangle him, allegations that the Oscar-winning star has categorically rejected. The French actor has also requested sole custody of Maceo, further complicating an already difficult family situation.
According to Page Six, Berry arrived at the courthouse wearing a dark tailored suit and sunglasses, accompanied by her legal representatives and her fiancé, musician Van Hunt. Martinez attended alongside their son and his own legal team. Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere between the former couple as particularly tense, claiming that neither exchanged a word during the proceedings.
Presiding judge Shelley Kaufman reportedly began the hearing by calling Maceo to testify. In order to protect the teenager’s privacy and ensure that he could speak without external pressure, the courtroom was cleared while he gave evidence behind closed doors. His testimony lasted almost four hours, although the details of what he told the judge have not been made public.
During a break in proceedings, Maceo was reportedly seen talking to his father before returning to continue his testimony. Berry, meanwhile, appeared visibly emotional when the courtroom reopened, according to those present.
The hearing represents another significant development in the former couple’s complicated legal history. Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez, who married in 2013 and separated in 2015, have experienced ongoing disagreements concerning their son’s upbringing and custody arrangements.
Following Martinez’s allegations, a temporary domestic violence restraining order was reportedly issued against Berry, alongside restrictions affecting her contact with Maceo. However, these measures are provisional and do not represent a final judicial finding regarding the accusations.
The actress has firmly maintained her innocence and requested that the court dismiss her former husband’s application, lift the temporary restrictions and restore their previous 50-50 shared custody arrangement.
“I have never physically, emotionally or otherwise abused Maceo,” Berry stated in response to the allegations. She also referred to her personal experiences of domestic violence and her work supporting survivors, insisting: “I am not a violent person. I would never hurt our son.”
Another important figure in the proceedings is Nahla Aubry, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter from her previous relationship with Canadian model Gabriel Aubry. The teenager has reportedly submitted a statement defending her mother and explaining that she has never witnessed any physical violence towards her younger brother.
Although Nahla acknowledged that Berry can be strict when necessary, she described her mother as affectionate, understanding and deeply involved in her children’s lives. She also expressed sadness and concern about the situation affecting her family.
Nahla could now become the next family member to testify, potentially appearing remotely as she is currently studying at the University of Massachusetts.
For now, Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez remain involved in a highly sensitive legal dispute, with both parents presenting conflicting accounts. As the proceedings continue, the court will be responsible for assessing the evidence and determining the arrangements that best protect Maceo’s welfare.
