Son of Norway's Crown Princess Convicted of Rape and Assault
A 29-year-old with royal connections has been sentenced to prison for sexual offences and violence in intimate relationships.
Son of Norway's Crown Princess Convicted of Rape and Assault
Oslo District Court issued a judgment on Monday against Marius Borg Høiby, a 29-year-old and eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The court sentenced him to four years in prison after finding him guilty of two counts of rape, plus multiple convictions for violence and assault against partners.
The man was charged with sexual intercourse with four women without consent over a six-year period, from 2018 to 2024. The victims are reported to have been asleep or otherwise unable to resist. Two of these charges resulted in a guilty verdict, whilst he was acquitted of the remaining two.
The indictment comprised 40 counts in total. In addition to the serious sexual offences, the case included less serious violations such as physical assault, drug use and breach of a restraining order. The convicted man admitted to some of the less serious charges, but denied guilt for the rape charges.
The prosecution demanded nearly eight years in prison, whilst the defence argued their client should be acquitted of the rape charges and receive at most eighteen months for the offences he admitted.
The judgment can be appealed. Høiby followed the announcement from his cell via video link for health reasons, after he was not permitted to leave detention.
The trial lasted six weeks and concluded in March. Several injured parties testified, and the court had access to digital material from the defendant's telephone.
The case has attracted considerable media attention internationally due to Høiby's family background. He has no official role in the monarchy, but grew up in the crown prince couple's household. His mother married crown prince Haakon after Høiby was born.
Recently, interest has been intensified by the crown princess's serious health condition. Mette-Marit suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and is on a transplant list. Her connection to the deceased criminal Jeffrey Epstein has also become the subject of debate, although she is not suspected of any criminal wrongdoing.
Source: AP News
Source: Google News MT