Halle Berry spotted with fiancé Van Hunt amid ongoing custody dispute with ex Olivier Martinez

Halle Berry was seen leaving a Los Angeles courthouse on Friday, holding hands with her fiancé Van Hunt, as her contentious custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez progresses. This appearance marked the fifth consecutive day Berry had been present in court this week. She was photographed wearing a patterned blouse, black trousers, a chic black coat, and black pumps.

Martinez previously obtained a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry earlier this month. He accused her of "physically abusing" their 13-year-old son, Maceo, by allegedly jumping on and choking him during an incident on September 26. Berry has denied all allegations.

Testimony from Nahla Aubry

Berry's 18-year-old daughter, Nahla Aubry, who is attending college in Massachusetts, previously defended her mother in a declaration filed with Los Angeles Superior Court on October 5. "I have also never seen my mom throw anything at anyone, not a knife, or plate, or any other object," Nahla stated in the filing. "I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way."

Nahla described witnessing Berry and Maceo engage in "playful wrestling, tickling each other, and rolling around laughing on the floor or on a bed many times." She added that she had never seen Berry exhibit conduct resembling the accusations made against her. Nahla characterized her mother as "a loving and devoted parent" who "can be strict when necessary and expects her children to follow rules and be respectful."

In her declaration, Nahla expressed being "heartbroken for Maceo" due to the public nature of the dispute and felt "angry" with Martinez, believing he did not respect her enough to spare her from public headlines.

Berry's Legal Arguments

In a legal filing reviewed by The Daily Mail, Berry claimed that Martinez has repeatedly interfered with Maceo's schooling and therapy, hindering progress. She stated that Martinez has inappropriately involved Maceo in the custody battle and undermined her efforts with the teenager.

Berry requested the court grant her "sole legal custody over matters relating to Maceo's education, healthcare, and mental-health treatment," and to "extend [her] tie-breaking authority indefinitely." Her attorneys argued that Martinez's actions involve "manipulation, alienation, and litigation to obstruct necessary interventions for Maceo and to circumvent orders," noting that his "custom and practice is confirmed by numerous judicial findings, court orders, and sanctions."

Berry's filing indicated that Maceo's "behavioral issues at school have significantly escalated" since the temporary restraining order was issued. School administrators noted in letters submitted to the court that Maceo has become increasingly oppositional, defiant, and disrespectful, leading to disciplinary actions including a week of detention and his unilateral decision to switch schools. Berry asserted that, with Martinez's encouragement, Maceo has been led to believe he has a say in decisions regarding his education, health, extracurricular activities, and welfare.

Proposed Co-Parenting Measures

In addition to seeking sole custody, Berry requested court authorization for Maceo to attend a year of individual and conjoint therapy sessions with a therapist of her choosing. She also asked that both parties be ordered to communicate exclusively via the co-parenting app Our Family Wizard, with each party checking the app once daily and sending no more than one non-emergency message per day.

Berry and Martinez were married from 2013 to 2015, with their divorce finalized in 2023. IMAGE1