Norway Crown Princess's Son Faces 7-Year Prison Term As Rape Trial Nears Verdict

Prosecutors in Norway are seeking a prison sentence of more than seven years for Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, after a high-profile trial that has drawn intense scrutiny to the country's royal family.

​The case, which concluded after six weeks of proceedings in Oslo District Court, centres on dozens of allegations against the 29-year-old, including four counts of rape. Prosecutors have asked the court to sentence Høiby to seven years and seven months in prison, arguing that the offences show a repeated disregard for consent and legal boundaries, per AP News.

​Høiby has denied the rape charges, saying the acts were consensual, but admitted to a number of lesser offences, including drug possession, transporting marijuana, traffic violations, and breaches of a restraining order.

He has also acknowledged some conduct involving violence, but contests elements of those claims, including whether there was intent.

​His defence team has called for his acquittal on the most serious charges and argued that any sentence should not exceed 18 months for the offences he has acknowledged.

​Allegations Span Several Years

​The accusations cover incidents said to have occurred between 2018 and 2024, concerning several women whom prosecutors say could not give consent because they were either asleep or in a vulnerable state.

​Over the course of the six-week trial, roughly 70 witnesses took the stand. Investigators presented extensive digital evidence, including material recovered from Høiby's mobile phone. Prosecutors argued the material supported claims of a recurring pattern of abusive conduct.

​Rape Charges: The Focus of the Case

​The focus of the trial are the four rape charges, each reportedly occurring after consensual sexual encounters. The key question is whether the women were able to resist, and if Høiby was aware of their state at the time. These allegations focus on consent and the defendant's understanding of his partners' capacity to agree.

​On Wednesday, prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø urged the court to separate Høiby's personal identity from his actions, saying that judgment should be based 'not for who he is, but for what he has done,' emphasising patterns of repeated misconduct.

Henriksbø highlighted violations ranging from breaches of restraining orders and police encounters to what he described as a disregard for consent, stressing that intoxication cannot be used as an excuse.

​'The rules are designed so that one cannot evade guilt by getting high or drunk,' the prosecutor told the court. 'Rape and abuse in close relationships are among the most serious acts one can expose others to, and that must be reflected in the punishment,' he said.

Response from the Defence

​Defence lawyer Sekulic argued that the evidence did not support the rape charges, noting that neither images nor videos shown in court proved a criminal act. While acknowledging that some of the defendant's behaviour may have been 'unsympathetic,' Sekulic insisted such conduct should not influence the court's judgment.

'What can be described as bad behavior, bad morals, which cannot be punished under the criminal law, should be disregarded. It is irrelevant,' he said.

​Press Attention 'Bordered on the Insane'

​In court, Høiby stated that the intense scrutiny had 'erased him as a person,' noting that he had been isolated by much of his social circle and faced significant struggles with depression. He said during the trial, 'My whole life is common property. I am no longer Marius, I'm a monster.'

​While Henriksbø argued that the media attention underscores the seriousness of the case, Sekulic warned that sensational reporting could prejudice public perception and the court's impartiality.

​Petar Sekulic said that press attention 'bordered on the insane, but almost exceeded anything one could have feared beforehand.'