Norwegian Crown Prince's son sentenced to four years in prison for rape
Oslo District Court has sentenced Marius Borg Høiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, to four years in prison for two rapes and other criminal offences. The 29-year-old could have received up to 16 years.
Norwegian Crown Prince's son sentenced to four years in prison for rape
Oslo District Court issued a sentence on Monday against Marius Borg Høiby, 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The court sentenced him to four years in prison for two rapes and several other criminal matters. The prosecution had requested seven years in prison, whilst his defence lawyer asked for one and a half years.
Høiby is not a prince and is not officially a member of the royal family. His mother had him before she married Crown Prince Haakon. His father, Morten Borg, was in prison for drug-related crimes when his son was born, and the couple were no longer together.
The indictment comprised 40 counts, ranging from rape to traffic offences. Høiby admitted to transporting 3.5 kilogrammes of marijuana, committing physical assaults and making threats. However, he denied criminal responsibility for the most serious charges, including four rapes. Two of these were ultimately proved, including one that took place in the Crown Prince couple's official residence in 2018. He was also convicted of repeated violence against a former girlfriend.
The sentence could have been far more severe. The combined sentencing range for all matters was up to 16 years in prison. Høiby was not present in court when the sentence was read out. He followed the proceedings by video from detention, for health reasons that were not further explained.
During the trial, Høiby argued that he had been a victim of being known only as his mother's son. "For this reason, I have had an extreme need for recognition throughout my life. This has manifested itself in a lot of sex, drugs and alcohol," he explained to the court.
The scandal broke in the summer of 2024, when police arrested him at his own flat in Oslo, suspected of assault against his then girlfriend. After that, allegations from other women came pouring in. The case, combined with the princess's friendship with the deceased American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has damaged the monarchy's reputation and weakened support amongst Norwegians. Support remains, however, relatively high.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is awaiting a lung transplant due to severely deteriorated pulmonary fibrosis, has herself had a turbulent past. Before she became a princess, she was known as a wild child at drug-fuelled parties.
Source: Delo
Source: Delo