Nahla Aubry and Van Hunt Testify as Berry-Martinez Case Nears a Verdict

A custody dispute that has kept Halle Berry tied to Los Angeles Superior Court for two weeks moved closer to resolution Monday, with closing arguments beginning after testimony from two of the actress's closest supporters. The proceedings, consistently shielded from public view by a judge's order, suggest the stakes — and the sensitivities — involved are considerable.

Nahla Aubry Testifies Virtually in Support of Her Mother

In what may be the most emotionally charged development of the trial so far, Nahla Aubry, 18, appeared virtually on the stand, offering testimony behind closed doors on Monday morning. The appearance was not entirely surprising — Nahla had already submitted a written declaration in support of her mother earlier in the month, signaling her willingness to weigh in on a case that directly concerns her family. Her testimony, according to Page Six, lasted under an hour. As the daughter of Berry and her former partner Gabriel Aubry, Nahla occupies a legally and personally complex position in this dispute, and her decision to testify underscores how deeply the conflict has permeated the family.

Van Hunt Returns for Cross-Examination

Berry's fiancé, musician Van Hunt, 56, had already taken the stand during the first week of proceedings, but returned Monday for cross-examination. Like Nahla's session, his time before the court lasted less than an hour. Hunt had originally testified with the courtroom cleared of observers, keeping the substance of his account protected from outside scrutiny. The nature of his cross-examination — presumably aimed at probing his personal knowledge of the alleged September 26 incident at Berry's home — remains undisclosed.

The Allegations at the Center of the Case

The case stems from accusations leveled by Olivier Martinez, 60, who claims that Berry choked their 13-year-old son, Maceo, during a confrontation at her residence last fall. Martinez subsequently sought a domestic violence restraining order and sole custody of Maceo. A judge granted a temporary restraining order on October 1 and awarded Martinez temporary primary custody — a development that significantly curtailed Berry's time with her son. That early ruling set the tone for a contentious trial.

Berry has denied the allegations emphatically. Her attorney, Marina Beck, has characterized Martinez's claims as "entirely meritless and deliberately misleading." Berry's own filings paint a counter-portrait of Martinez as a father who has interfered with Maceo's education, undermined her parenting, and drawn their son into adult legal disputes. She is seeking sole legal authority over decisions regarding Maceo's schooling and medical care, while also asking the court to reinstate the previous 50-50 physical custody arrangement.

A Key Contradiction in Martinez's Record

One of the more telling moments of the trial's first week came when Berry's legal team cross-examined Martinez about a 2024 sworn statement in which he denied any history of domestic violence between the former couple. His attorneys argued the declaration was crafted solely to address a legal fees matter, but the inconsistency — a sworn statement that now haunts his own case — provided Berry's counsel with meaningful ammunition.

Background: A Relationship With a Long Legal Aftermath

Berry and Martinez first crossed paths on the set of Dark Tide in 2010 and married in France in July 2013. Their son Maceo was born just months later that October. Their separation was announced in 2015, and while they were declared legally single by late 2016, the full resolution of their divorce, custody arrangements, and financial disputes wasn't reached until 2023 — nearly eight years after the initial filing. The current proceedings represent yet another chapter in a legal saga that has stretched across more than a decade.

What Comes Next

Closing arguments, which began Monday afternoon behind closed doors, are expected to continue into Tuesday. A ruling from the court is anticipated before the week's end. For Berry — an Oscar winner who has navigated Hollywood's most demanding terrain with considerable craft — the outcome will carry consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom.