Halle Berry’s daughter, Nahla Aubry, testified virtually on Monday as the actress’s custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez entered its second week. The 18-year-old’s appearance came after she previously filed a declaration of support for her mother.
Berry’s fiancé, Van Hunt, also returned to the stand for cross-examination. Both witnesses were expected to testify for less than an hour each. Closing arguments began Monday afternoon, with proceedings continuing behind closed doors.
Martinez is seeking a domestic violence restraining order and sole custody of the former couple’s 13-year-old son, Maceo. He was granted a temporary restraining order and temporary primary custody of Maceo on Oct. 1, limiting Berry’s time with their son.
During the first week of proceedings, both Berry and Martinez took the stand. Maceo also testified for nearly four hours on the first day, with his remarks limited to Martinez’s restraining order request. Last Thursday, Berry’s lawyer questioned Martinez regarding a 2024 sworn statement in which he denied any history of domestic violence between the couple. Hunt concluded the first week of testimony, with the courtroom cleared during his time on the stand.
Berry has denied the allegations. Her attorney, Marina Beck, has stated that Martinez’s claims are “entirely meritless and deliberately misleading.” In her own court filings, Berry accused Martinez of interfering with Maceo’s education and therapeutic care, undermining her parenting decisions, and involving their son in their legal dispute. The Oscar winner is seeking to dismiss Martinez’s restraining order, lift temporary restrictions on her time with Maceo, and restore their previous 50-50 physical custody arrangement, while also seeking sole legal custody over decisions regarding their son’s education and medical care.
Berry and Martinez met while filming “Dark Tide” in 2010 and began dating that year. They married in France on July 13, 2013, and welcomed Maceo on Oct. 5, 2013. The couple announced their separation in October 2015 and were declared legally single in December 2016, though their divorce proceedings continued until 2023.