A judge has ruled that Halle Berry’s 13-year-old son, Maceo, can testify in the ongoing custody dispute between the actress and her former husband, French actor Olivier Martinez.
According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Maceo’s testimony will be limited to Martinez’s request for a domestic violence restraining order against Berry. The ruling comes as the former couple prepare for further court proceedings over their son’s welfare and custody arrangements.
Martinez filed for sole custody earlier this month, alleging that Berry physically abused Maceo during an incident on September 26. He also alleged that there had been other instances of physical, verbal and emotional abuse. These claims have not been established in court.
Berry has strongly denied the allegations and opposed having her son testify. In court filings, she argued that Maceo could be influenced by his father, particularly because he had spent much of the preceding weeks in Martinez’s care.
The Monster’s Ball Oscar winner also questioned why Martinez was challenging the accounts of other potential witnesses, including her daughter, Nahla Ariela, and her fiancé, musician Van Hunt, who she said were present during the alleged incident.
Martinez, meanwhile, has maintained that Maceo wants to tell the court his account of events. His legal team has argued that hearing the teenager’s perspective is important to addressing the allegations and determining his welfare.
The custody dispute has attracted attention because of the serious and conflicting claims made by both parents. A temporary restraining order was previously granted to Martinez, with restrictions placed on Berry’s visitation schedule pending further proceedings.
