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Olivier Martinez has filed for a temporary restraining order against his ex-wife, Halle Berry, accusing the actress of physically abusing their 12-year-old son, Maceo.
According to court documents, Martinez alleges that Berry attacked their son on Sept. 26, jumping on him, grabbing his neck and choking him. He described the incident as the latest in a series of alleged physical and verbal confrontations involving the actress and their child.
Martinez claims Maceo contacted him after the alleged incident and asked to leave Berry's home early. Text messages included in the filing show the former couple disagreeing over their son's decision to leave.
When Martinez asked whether Berry was comfortable with the arrangement, she allegedly responded, "No I'm not ok with it. He wants to fight his mother?? What kind of kid are we raising."
In another message, Berry reportedly wrote, "I'm his mother and this is wrong! He had no respect for his mother and this should not be ok for you as his father!!!"
The following day, Berry contacted Martinez about speaking with their son. "I feel terrible about what happened last night as I know he does as well," she wrote.
Martinez is seeking sole custody and restrictions on Berry's contact with Maceo. He also requested that she be prohibited from consuming alcohol or other substances while spending time with their son.
The court granted a temporary restraining order requiring Berry to remain at least 100 yards away from Martinez. She can still see Maceo through court-ordered visitation, limited to two days a week and every other weekend, pending a hearing scheduled for Oct. 16. The former couple has also been ordered to participate in confidential custody mediation.
Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, rejected the allegations, describing the filing as "entirely meritless and deliberately misleading."
Beck also accused Martinez of repeatedly violating court orders and interfering with therapeutic and educational interventions for their son. She said those actions had previously resulted in legal sanctions.
Martinez's attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, said his client's primary concern was Maceo's safety and wellbeing.
"The paramount concern is the health, welfare and the safety of the minor child," Baghdaserians said, explaining why Martinez sought the restraining order.
