Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s 13-year-old son Maceo has been cleared to testify in their bitter custody battle.
Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez’s son has been cleared to testify in their bitter custody battle.
The French actor is seeking sole custody of 13-year-old Maceo and has sought a domestic violence restraining order after alleging his ex-wife attacked the teenager during an argument last month, and while the Monster’s Ball star had expressed her opposition to the boy being able to speak in court, a judge has now made a ruling on the matter.
In court documents obtained by Daily Mail Online, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Shelley Kaufman ruled: “The minor child is permitted to testify.
“Testimony by the minor child shall be limited to the request for the issuance of a restraining order.”
However, the judge noted Maceo’s testimony would be heard in a closed courtroom with just the parties, their legal representatives and court personnel in attendance.
Halle had argued Maceo has been “coached and manipulated” by her ex-husband in her request for him not to testify.
In documents obtained by People magazine, the 60-year-old actress urged the court not to place “substantial weight” on testimony from the teen, who she described as a “coached and manipulated child” when compared to key eyewitnesses who were there on the day, such as her fiancé Van Hunt and her 18-year-old daughter Nahla.
Her declaration read: “Van Hunt (‘Van’) was physically present during the incident and is the only adult third-party eyewitness to the events at issue.
“Nahla Aubry has lived with Halle and Maceo for virtually Maceo’s entire life and is uniquely situated to observe their relationship, family dynamics, and Halle’s parenting over many years.
“Rather than welcome testimony from these witnesses with direct personal knowledge, Olivier dismisses their observations while elevating the testimony of a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old child who has spent the last two weeks primarily in Olivier’s care and with whom Olivier admittedly has been discussing the allegations, the litigation, and his anticipated testimony.”
Berry claimed that her former husband has been “repeatedly discussing the case” with their son, and “discounting the testimony of adult witnesses with direct personal knowledge of the relevant events”.
In response, Olivier’s lawyer said: “We vehemently deny such allegations. The child is the primary victim here.
“Victims of abuse should be able to testify regarding the abuse inflicted upon them. We are not surprised that the opposing party does not want the child Maceo to testify.
“The opposing party is seemingly scared of what the child will say.”
The former couple are currently locked in a legal battle over custody of their son, and earlier this week Olivier said that the teenager wants to “provide his side of the story”.
He wrote in his declaration: “He [Maceo] should have the opportunity to have his voice heard regarding what he experienced that night.
“If he is prevented from addressing the Court regarding these allegations, I fear that he would be dissuaded from reporting problems or potential abuse in the future.”
The Unfaithful actor had added that he anticipates that Halle would try and “prevent our son from addressing the Court directly” but insisted Maceo’s testimony about what allegedly happened on September 26, would be “key to the Court learning the full truth about the events that occurred”.
Halle has strenuously denied Olivier’s accusations, saying in her own declaration: “I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo.
“I am a victim of domestic violence, and I help victims of domestic violence. I am not a perpetrator of violence. I would never hurt our child.”
Berry’s 18-year-old daughter Nahla, whose dad is ex Gabriel Aubry, also defended the actress in a declaration in which she called her a “loving and devoted parent”.
The former couple finalised their divorce in 2023, after an eight-year legal battle.
Halle Berry’s son cleared to testify
