Norway's Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of rape. The Oslo District Court delivered the verdict on Monday, June 15, finding him guilty of two of the four rape charges he faced while acquitting him of the other two.
Additional Convictions and Compensation
In addition to the rape convictions, Høiby was found guilty of assault and abuse in close relationships. The court also ordered him to pay compensation to the victims. The 29-year-old had been charged with sexually assaulting four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024.
Extensive Criminal Charges
Høiby faced a total of 40 criminal charges, including lesser offenses such as assault, drug-related crimes, and violations of a restraining order. He denied the rape allegations but admitted to several of the other offenses.
Prosecution and Defense Arguments
Prosecutors had requested a sentence of seven years and seven months in prison, while defense lawyers argued for acquittal on the rape charges and no more than 18 months for the admitted offenses. The sentence is not final, and Høiby has the right to appeal.
Court Proceedings
Høiby was not present in court on Monday due to health reasons but watched the reading of the verdict via video link from prison. The six-week trial concluded in March after testimony from multiple accusers and presentation of evidence, including messages, images, and videos from Høiby's mobile phone.
