New Development in Halle Berry, Olivier Martinez’s Custody Battle: Son Cleared to Testify

Just when you thought the ongoing child custody drama between Halle Berry and her ex-husband Olivier Martinez was getting quiet, things have revved up again thanks to a new court decision. Let’s get into it.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ on Thursday, Berry and Martinez’s 13-year-old son Maceo has been cleared to testify in the custody battle. However, his testimony will be “limited to the request for the issuance of a restraining order.” In a separate statement to Entertainment Weekly, Martinez’s lawyers spoke on why they pushed to have Maceo do so, citing their belief that it would be in the child’s best interests.

“My client believes that it is in Maceo’s best interest for the Court to have all the information regarding what happened at Petitioner’s home on the night of September 26, 2026,” Martinez’s attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, said in part. “He should have the opportunity to have his voice heard regarding what he experienced that night.”

Related: Halle Berry’s Custody Battle Gets Even Messier as Olivier Martinez Makes New Request

“That night” refers to the date of an alleged altercation between Maceo and Berry that’s at the crux of this entire legal battle. As we previously told you, Martinez filed court documents at the top of October alleging physical abuse and emotional distress following a September incident—filings Berry’s team notes were made without prior notice amid their ongoing custody battles. He alleged that on that September night, Berry “physically abused” their son “by jumping on him, putting her hands around his neck, and choking him.”

Martinez also claimed that there was photo evidence to prove the altercation took place and that Maceo suffered bruising. But Berry recently pushed back, claiming that the photo shows her standing calmly with her hands in her pockets, several feet away from their son. The Oscar-winning actress also alleged that there were no visible bruises, redness, or injuries to support Martinez’s allegations.

While Martinez and Berry have only spoken out through their lawyers, Berry’s daughter Nahla Aubry (whom she shares with ex Gabriel Aubry) recently gave her perspective on the matter in a lengthy court statement defending her mother and denying that she exhibited any harmful behaviors towards her younger brother.

“Having lived with my mom my entire life and having personally observed her relationship with Maceo for years, the allegations are completely inconsistent with the mom I know. I never observed anything abusive about her parenting,” she said in part.