As the legal back-and-forth between Halle Berry and her ex-husband Olivier Martinez continues, a new request to have their 13-year-old son Maceo testify in court is about to make things even messier.
According to new court documents, Martinez is now seeking to have his son speak about his experience in connection with the child abuse allegations he lobbed against Berry at the beginning of October and the subsequent custody battle. Martinez wants Maceo to tell the court what happened between him and his mother in late September, when the Oscar-winning actress is alleged to have “physically abused” him by “jumping on him, putting her hands around his neck, and choking him.”
“Given that our son is 13 years old, I believe it would certainly be in his best interest for him to address the court at this time,” Martinez argued in the documents obtained by Page Six. “He should have the opportunity to have his voice heard regarding what he experienced that night.”
Related: Halle Berry’s Daughter Speaks Out About Her Mother’s Bitter Legal Battle With Ex
He later continued: “I believe that our son’s testimony will be the key to the Court learning the full truth about the events that occurred on September 26th. I am the parent who wants the truth to come out. I am the parent who does not want to suppress Maceo’s voice.”
Martinez is also pushing back on Berry’s eldest daughter, Nahla Aubry’s, petition to speak to the court and give her perspective in the case, citing his feelings that she’s “unquestionably biased.”
“Ms. Aubry does not have any significant bearing on this case. Ms. Aubry is unquestionably biased. I do not believe it is appropriate for [Berry] to try to insert her daughter into litigation that does not involve her,” Martinez said.
His words come just after Aubrey made a lengthy statement in support of her mother and Maceo’s relationship, in which she explained that she never witnessed Berry act violently toward anyone. She also pushed back on Martinez’s allegations that the “Catwoman” star was physically abusive to Maceo and said that she never saw her mother “hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way.”
Additionally, as TMZ reported, Berry is attempting to bring context and clarity to a photo Maceo allegedly took after their September 26 altercation, alleging that the photo shows her standing calmly with her hands in her pockets, several feet away from their son, and points out that there are no visible bruises, redness, or injuries to support Martinez’s allegations.
She’s also disputing Martinez’s interpretation of statements made by her boyfriend, Van Hunt, who previously said he did not notice any marks on Maceo. She claims her ex-husband was “cherry-picking” text messages and twisting details to paint her in a negative light.
