Halle Berry Custody Battle Reaches Boiling Point as Daughter Nahla Testifies in Secret Hearing Over Shocking Abuse Claims

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry has faced her ex-husband Olivier Martinez in a tense courtroom showdown, where her 18-year-old daughter, Nahla Aubry, delivered secret virtual evidence in an escalating battle over domestic abuse allegations and the care of their 13-year-old son, Maceo.

The high-stakes proceedings at Los Angeles Superior Court have reached their final stages, with closing arguments underway behind closed doors and a decisive judicial ruling expected within days.

The dramatic hearing follows an emergency order granted on 1 October, which temporarily stripped Berry of primary custody following allegations brought by Martinez that she choked their teenage son during an altercation at her home on 26 September.

Berry has vehemently rejected the claims, with her legal team branding the accusations entirely baseless and designed to manipulate the custody arrangement.

Halle Berry walks down the street with her daughter.

Crucial Witness Evidence Heard Behind Closed Doors

The ongoing Halle Berry custody battle intensified significantly as the hearing entered its second week, focusing heavily on testimony from immediate family members.

Nahla, Berry’s eldest child from her former relationship with model Gabriel Aubry, spoke via video link after previously submitting a formal declaration supporting her mother.

Shortly afterwards, Berry’s musician fiancé, 56-year-old Van Hunt, stepped into the witness box for cross-examination, having had the entire courtroom cleared during his initial appearance at the end of the previous week.

Both Nahla and Hunt were questioned for under an hour each before the judge initiated closing submissions from the respective legal teams.

Van Hunt and Nahla Ariela Aubry walking outside with shopping bags.

The private nature of the hearing reflects standard protective legal measures often seen in complex family disputes, mirroring the confidentiality protocols applied in family courts across England and Wales to safeguard the welfare of minors.

The court previously heard nearly four hours of restricted evidence directly from 13-year-old Maceo, whose personal testimony was specifically confined by the judge to the allegations underpinning the restraining order application.

Halle Berry and Van Hunt arrive at the Los Angeles County Courthouse.

Conflicting Claims and a Contested 2024 Declaration

French actor Olivier Martinez, 60, has petitioned the court for a permanent domestic violence restraining order alongside full legal and physical custody of Maceo.

According to court filings submitted by Martinez, Maceo contacted him frantically following the alleged late-September disturbance, pleading for his father to collect him immediately.

Actor Olivier Martinez walking outside while holding a water bottle.

However, the credibility of the narrative was directly challenged during fiery cross-examination by Berry’s barrister, Marina Beck.

Martinez was pressed on a sworn statement he signed in 2024 explicitly stating there was no history of domestic abuse between the former spouses, an apparent contradiction his legal team later claimed was drawn up solely for administrative matters regarding legal fees.

Olivier Martinez arriving for a custody hearing over his son.

What Halle Berry Is Demanding from the Court

Berry has launched an aggressive counter-petition designed to overturn the interim sanctions and neutralise Martinez’s claims.

• Complete Dismissal: Immediate removal of the temporary domestic violence restraining order.
• Restoration of Contact: Lifting of all emergency restrictions currently capping her physical parenting time.
• Equal Care Schedule: Re-establishment of the couple’s longstanding 50-50 shared physical arrangement.
• Sole Decision-Making Powers: Full legal control over Maceo’s formal education and therapeutic healthcare.

Berry’s legal filings allege that Martinez has consistently disrupted their child’s schooling, interfered with essential therapy, and intentionally drawn the teenager into adult litigation.

Olivier Martinez wearing sunglasses and a dark shirt, talking with his lawyer.

A Bitter Eight-Year Divorce Saga

The bitter dispute represents the latest chapter in what has proved to be one of Hollywood’s most protracted matrimonial conflicts.

The pair first crossed paths in 2010 on the set of the thriller Dark Tide, embarking on a high-profile romance that culminated in marriage in France in July 2013.

Maceo was born just three months later, but by October 2015, the marriage had fractured, prompting both parties to file for divorce.

Halle Berry and Van Hunt holding hands and walking together.

While a judge declared both individuals legally single in December 2016, unresolved disagreements over finances and co-parenting dragged the case through the legal system until a final settlement was reached in 2023.

That hard-won settlement took nearly eight years to finalise, only to unravel entirely following the domestic allegations lodged earlier this autumn.

Halle Berry walking outdoors with her daughter, both wearing face masks.

With closing speeches concluding, the presiding judge must now determine whether to impose formal protective orders or restore Berry’s joint custodial rights.

💡 The outcome will set a definitive legal boundary for Maceo’s domestic and educational life as the court prepares to deliver its final verdict.

🔍 As high-profile parental disputes continue to highlight the complexities of post-divorce care orders, public scrutiny remains firmly fixed on the Los Angeles courthouse.

👇 Do you believe high-conflict family court hearings involving minors should always be conducted in complete secrecy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: pagesix.com