Halle Berry's Son Allowed to Testify in Custody Dispute Over Abuse Allegations

A Los Angeles court has permitted 13-year-old Maceo to testify in the custody battle between his mother, actress Halle Berry, and his father, actor Olivier Martinez. The testimony will be limited to Martinez's request for a domestic violence restraining order and will occur in a closed courtroom with only parties, counsel, and court personnel present.

On September 26, 2026, an incident occurred during which Martinez alleges Berry physically abused Maceo while he was playing a virtual reality game, claiming she jumped on him, placed her hands around his neck, and choked him. Berry denies the allegations entirely. In her court filings, Berry stated: "I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo. I am a victim of domestic violence, and I help victims of domestic violence." She submitted video evidence and messages she says contradict Martinez's account, describing the interaction as "playfully roughhousing" that escalated when Maceo became upset and allegedly pushed her.

Martinez filed for sole custody on October 1 and was granted a temporary restraining order that modified the couple's custody agreement. Berry previously held 50/50 custody established when their divorce finalized in August 2023; she is now limited to daytime visits two days per week and every other weekend. Berry has requested the court restore their shared custody arrangement and has objected to Maceo's testimony, arguing Martinez has "coached and manipulated" her son and that the boy has a "personal interest in minimizing his own conduct." She contends that years of parenting dynamics—where she enforced rules while Martinez allowed greater autonomy—may have caused Maceo to view her unfavorably and influenced his account of events.

Martinez countered that Maceo deserves a voice in the proceedings. "He should have the opportunity to have his voice heard regarding what he experienced that night," Martinez stated in court documents, emphasizing that his son's testimony is "key to the Court learning the full truth about the events that occurred on September 26th." Berry's 18-year-old daughter Nahla, from a previous relationship, submitted a declaration defending her mother as "a loving and devoted parent," stating she never witnessed Berry physically abuse Maceo. Martinez objected to Nahla testifying, claiming she has no significant bearing on the case.

Berry also disputed Martinez's claims about photographic evidence. When Martinez alleged that Maceo took a photo of his mother showing evidence of abuse, Berry's October 13 response noted the image shows her standing calmly with hands in her pockets, feet away from Maceo, with no visible injuries consistent with strangulation allegations. She further disputed Martinez's characterization of her fiancé Van Hunt's observations, stating Hunt only noted he did not observe redness or bruising—not that he conducted a formal inspection.

The case highlights contested narratives about a single incident and broader questions about parental dynamics and child testimony credibility in custody disputes.