Halle Berry Challenges Ex-Husband’s Request for Son to Testify in Custody Battle

Halle Berry is actively pushing back against a request from her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, to have their 13-year-old son, Maceo, testify in their ongoing custody dispute. The Oscar-winning actress has expressed significant concerns that her son has been influenced by his father, arguing that his testimony could potentially undermine the court’s ability to impartially evaluate the events surrounding a September incident.

The legal battle between the former couple has intensified following allegations that Berry physically abused their son. While Martinez has requested sole custody of Maceo, Berry has consistently denied these accusations, maintaining that the claims are without merit.

Concerns Over Parental Influence

In recent court filings, Berry highlighted that Maceo has spent the majority of the past two weeks in his father’s care. She alleges that Martinez has been discussing the legal proceedings with their son, which she believes has coached and manipulated the child’s perspective. Berry argued that the court should exercise extreme caution before placing weight on testimony from a child who has been repeatedly exposed to one parent’s narrative, particularly when it conflicts with the accounts of adult eyewitnesses.

Berry has pointed to the testimony of her fiancé, musician Van Hunt, and her 18-year-old daughter, Nahla Aubry, as more reliable sources of information. Both were reportedly present during the incident on September 26 that triggered the current legal action. Nahla has previously submitted a declaration in support of her mother, describing Berry as a supportive parent and stating she has never witnessed any violent behavior.

The Argument for Testimony

Conversely, Olivier Martinez maintains that his son should be granted the opportunity to share his own account of the events. Through his attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, Martinez argued that the child is the primary victim in this situation and should be allowed to voice his experiences regarding the alleged abuse. Baghdaserians dismissed Berry’s claims of manipulation, suggesting that the opposition is simply fearful of what the child might reveal in court.

The legal proceedings have already resulted in a judge granting a temporary restraining order and modifying visitation arrangements. As the case moves forward, the court has yet to make a final determination on whether Maceo will be permitted to testify. A hearing regarding the restraining order is currently scheduled for October 16, which will likely serve as a pivotal moment in this high-profile custody battle.

The former couple, who married in 2013 and finalized their divorce in August 2023, previously operated under a shared custody agreement. These new allegations have effectively reopened the dispute, leaving the future of their co-parenting arrangement uncertain.