Son of Norway crown princess to face trial for allegedly raping 4 girls

Within the largest scandal to rock Norway’s monarchy, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit goes on trial Tuesday accused of raping 4 girls, in addition to drug and assault offenses.

Marius Borg Hoiby, Mette-Marit’s 29-year-old son from a relationship earlier than she married Crown Prince Haakon, has been charged with a complete of 38 counts, a few of which date again to 2018.

He faces as much as 16 years in jail if the Oslo district courtroom finds him responsible. The trial, scheduled to final till March 19, is predicted to draw intense media protection.

“In the case of the Norwegian royal household, it’s for sure the largest scandal” in its 120-year historical past, Trond Noren Isaksen, a historian and skilled on Norway’s monarchy, advised AFP.

“There have been controversies surrounding the selection of spouses, about renovations of the palace and these sorts of issues, however by no means any actual scandals involving felony offences, not to mention so many,” he mentioned.

Probably the most critical fees towards Hoiby are the 4 rapes and the bodily and psychological abuse of a number of ex-girlfriends.

He has up to now solely confessed to a number of the extra minor fees.

“Hoiby is saving his model of occasions for the courtroom,” the legislation agency defending him advised AFP.

Some rapes had been filmed

A tall blond who cultivates a “dangerous boy” look with slicked again hair, earrings, rings and tattoos, Hoiby was arrested on Aug. 4, 2024, suspected of assaulting his girlfriend the evening earlier than.

A number of days later, he admitted he had acted “drunk and cocaine after an argument,” having suffered from “psychological troubles” and struggling “for a very long time with substance abuse.”

The investigation into that incident uncovered a slew of different suspected offences, together with the rapes of 4 girls whereas they had been sleeping or handed out drunk, a few of which he filmed.

The 4 rapes allegedly happened in 2018, 2023 and 2024, the final one after the police investigation started.

Final week, police introduced six new counts towards him, together with a “critical narcotics offence” from 2020 during which he transported 3.5 kilos of marijuana, with out monetary compensation. He has confessed to that crime.

The case has dropped at mild the dangerous firm saved by Hoiby, who has no royal title, no official function and no skilled profession. The crown prince couple present for him financially.

It has additionally deeply embarrassed the royal household, particularly his mom, who suffers from an incurable lung sickness and who’s torn between her function as mom and future queen.

Haakon launched a press release on Wednesday, saying neither he nor Mette-Marit plan to attend the trial, he mentioned.

“Our ideas are with everybody who’s affected by this case. It has an affect on the people, their households and all those that care about them. We perceive that it is a tough time for a lot of of you, and we sympathise,” mentioned the assertion from Haakon, which was launched by the Royal Home of Norway and shared in English.

“On the identical time, it’s reassuring to know that we reside in a state ruled by the rule of legislation. I’m assured that these chargeable for overseeing the proceedings will make sure that the trial is performed in as orderly, correct, and only a method as attainable,” it continued.

“Necessary member of our household”

Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo has insisted that each one individuals are equal within the eyes of the legislation, “no matter their social standing, origin or household ties.”

“Which means Hoiby ought to neither be handled extra leniently nor extra severely due to his household” affiliations, he advised AFP.

Hoiby was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Not like them, he has no official public function.

In his assertion Wednesday, Haakon alluded to Hoiby’s “autonomous” standing.

“Marius Borg Høiby will not be a member of the Royal Home of Norway and is subsequently autonomous. We care about him, and he is a vital member of our household. He’s a citizen of Norway and, as such, has the identical tasks as everybody else — in addition to the identical rights,” Haakon mentioned.

The prosecutor mentioned essentially the most critical crimes carry sentences of as much as 10 years behind bars, which will be raised to a most of 16 years if the courtroom finds him responsible on a number of counts.

The scandal — which comes on prime of the antics of Princess Martha Louise, Haakon’s older sister who married a self-proclaimed American shaman in 2024 — has tarnished the royal household’s picture, although it nonetheless stays very talked-about in Norway.

An opinion ballot revealed Wednesday by public broadcaster NRK advised that 70% of these questioned help the monarchy, in comparison with 81% in 2017.

“Folks really feel compassion for an getting old royal couple, who’re clearly fully harmless on this matter,” Carl-Erik Grimstad, a former palace employee-turned-author mentioned in reference to King Harald and Queen Sonja, each 88 years previous and seen as unifying figures for the nation.

And “in occasions of geopolitical turbulence, individuals typically rally across the symbols closest to them,” he added.

The decision is predicted a number of weeks after the top of the trial.