Halle Berry and her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, are preparing for another week of legal proceedings as their contentious custody dispute continues in Los Angeles.
A temporary domestic violence restraining order involving the former couple has been extended through the weekend, with hearings expected to resume next week. The dispute centers on allegations involving their 13-year-old son, Maceo.
The Monster's Ball actress, 60, and the French actor, also 60, returned to Stanley Mosk Courthouse on Friday for the fifth day of hearings addressing the allegations.
Martinez Continues Testimony Behind Closed Doors
During Friday's proceedings, Martinez continued his confidential testimony, which had begun the previous day. He reportedly maintained his allegations that Berry had subjected him to abuse, despite being confronted with a sworn declaration he signed in 2024 stating that the former couple had no history of domestic violence.
Following a lunch recess, Berry's fiancé, musician Van Hunt, 56, took the witness stand. His testimony also took place in a closed courtroom.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesHunt appeared relieved as he left the courthouse alone at approximately 4 p.m. He was later seen laughing with a member of Berry's legal team.
The hearing concluded around 4:30 p.m., after which Martinez and his attorneys exited together, followed by Berry and her representatives.
Before leaving, Berry was seen rubbing Hunt's arm in the courthouse hallway.
Halle Berry's Daughter Expected to Testify
Berry's daughter, Nahla Aubry, 18, is expected to give testimony remotely when the proceedings resume on Monday.
Nahla has previously submitted a declaration to the court stating that she has never witnessed her mother abusing Maceo.
© Joshua BlanchardHer anticipated testimony comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the allegations made by Martinez and the family's circumstances surrounding the custody dispute.
Attorney Challenges Martinez Over Previous Statement
Thursday's hearing featured cross-examination of Martinez by Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, who questioned him about his allegations of abuse during their relationship, including claims involving incidents said to have occurred approximately a decade ago.
Beck presented Martinez with a declaration he signed under penalty of perjury on September 30, 2024. The document stated that the former couple had no history of domestic violence.
Martinez acknowledged that the signature was his and agreed that the statement was accurate when he made it.
During the exchange, Beck asked whether the declaration had been true at the time it was signed. Martinez responded affirmatively.
However, Martinez's attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, subsequently offered an explanation for the earlier statement in comments to Page Six.
He said the declaration had been prepared in connection with a financial request rather than a custody matter.
According to Baghdaserians, there had been no domestic violence conviction or restraining order at the time the declaration was signed. He maintained that the document accurately reflected the absence of any prior domestic violence restraining orders and was related to a request for need-based attorney fees.
Dispute Centers on Alleged Incident Involving Their Son
The ongoing court battle follows Martinez's allegation that Berry choked their teenage son during a confrontation at her home on September 26.
Martinez has argued that the alleged incident reflects a broader pattern of abusive behavior. He also claimed that Maceo contacted him afterward and asked to be picked up.
© GettyEarlier in the week, Maceo reportedly spent more than four hours testifying in a closed courtroom as part of the proceedings.
The allegations have not, by themselves, established a final determination of wrongdoing by Berry.
Temporary Restraining Order Affects Custody Arrangements
A judge previously granted Martinez a temporary domestic violence restraining order and approved his request for primary custody of Maceo while the case proceeds.
The temporary arrangement restricts the amount of time Berry can spend with her son during the ongoing legal dispute.
© WireImageBerry's legal team has strongly rejected Martinez's allegations. Beck previously described the claims to Page Six as “entirely meritless and deliberately misleading,” emphasizing that the actress firmly denies any wrongdoing.
Legal Battle Set to Continue Next Week
With testimony from additional witnesses expected, the custody dispute between Berry and Martinez remains unresolved.
The proceedings are examining competing accounts of the alleged incident involving Maceo, as well as the circumstances surrounding the former couple's domestic violence allegations and temporary custody arrangements.
The hearing is scheduled to resume Monday, when Nahla is expected to testify virtually. The court's subsequent decisions will determine how the dispute progresses and whether any changes are made to the current temporary arrangements.
