Prosecutors in the trial of Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, have requested a jail term of seven years and seven months, arguing he should be found guilty of 39 of the 40 charges he faces. The 29-year-old denies the most serious charges, which include four counts of rape and serious assault. The trial, which began in early February, is expected to conclude this week, with three judges set to deliberate their verdicts afterwards.
Høiby attended court as the prosecution concluded its case. He was born before his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 and has grown up within the royal family, though he is not a formal member of it. Høiby claims he had consensual sex with the four women involved in the allegations before the incidents that led to the accusations of rape.
He has admitted to some lesser offences, including a drugs charge related to possessing marijuana, traffic violations, and breaching a restraining order. Furthermore, he partially admitted to assaulting a woman in her home but has denied allegations of abuse against his ex-girlfriend.
The high-profile nature of the trial has drawn significant media attention, with each day’s proceedings making headline news in Norway. In his testimony, Høiby expressed how media scrutiny has transformed his life, stating, I'm not Marius anymore; I'm a monster.
The Crown Princess was also in the news around the time of the trial for other controversies involving her contacts with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. State prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø emphasized that Høiby should be judged based on his actions, rather than his royal lineage, as the trial continues to unfold with intense public and media interest.
Høiby attended court as the prosecution concluded its case. He was born before his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 and has grown up within the royal family, though he is not a formal member of it. Høiby claims he had consensual sex with the four women involved in the allegations before the incidents that led to the accusations of rape.
He has admitted to some lesser offences, including a drugs charge related to possessing marijuana, traffic violations, and breaching a restraining order. Furthermore, he partially admitted to assaulting a woman in her home but has denied allegations of abuse against his ex-girlfriend.
The high-profile nature of the trial has drawn significant media attention, with each day’s proceedings making headline news in Norway. In his testimony, Høiby expressed how media scrutiny has transformed his life, stating, I'm not Marius anymore; I'm a monster.
The Crown Princess was also in the news around the time of the trial for other controversies involving her contacts with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. State prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø emphasized that Høiby should be judged based on his actions, rather than his royal lineage, as the trial continues to unfold with intense public and media interest.
