A Norwegian court will hand down its verdict and sentence Monday in the rape trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, concluding a case that has gripped Norway and is widely expected to result in a prison sentence regardless of the outcome of the most serious charges.Høiby, 29, faces 40 criminal charges, including four counts of rape and allegations involving violence, threats and abuse. Prosecutors have asked Oslo District Court to sentence him to seven years and seven months in prison, while defense lawyers have argued that he should be acquitted of the rape allegations and receive no more than 18 months for offenses he has admitted to.The six-week trial concluded in March after testimony from multiple accusers and presentation of evidence, including messages, images and videos from Høiby’s cellphone. The rape charges involve four different women between 2018 and 2024. In each case, the women are alleged to have been sleeping or heavily incapacitated.
___EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call 1-800-656-4673 for the national sexual assault hotline in the U.S. or +47 800 57 000 for the helpline for victims of sexual abuse in Norway.
