Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has had a request to be moved from prison to a royal residence denied, as he awaits the ruling of his high-profile rape case.
Charges and Trial Details
The 29-year-old has been charged with 32 counts, including alleged rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, acts of violence against another, making death threats, and numerous traffic violations. The seven-week trial concluded in March, and Høiby has been awaiting the ruling and sentencing from a prison in Oslo.
Petition for Transfer Denied
According to local media, the stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon petitioned the court to be allowed to leave prison and complete his remand at the royal estate of Skaugum, where his mother and stepfather reside. Høiby argued that his mother’s chronic lung condition made visiting him in prison difficult. Crown Princess Mette-Marit is battling pulmonary fibrosis and was recently seen using a nasal cannula device to assist with oxygen flow.
The 29-year-old also detailed a “hard life” in solitary confinement, telling the court that isolation was harming him. He said: "I have extremely little human contact, only two or three visits a week. It's quite difficult not having social contact for so long." He added: "I feel more passive, I'm having trouble sleeping, I'm losing my appetite, and I get the shakes."
Judge Førde denied the request, citing a "considerable" risk that Høiby would re-offend if released. Prosecutors argued that Høiby had previously ignored restraining orders and remained a high risk for further violations. The judge emphasized that several of the crimes Borg is accused of are believed to have taken place in the very home he was requesting to return to, also noting that Borg would have access to phones there, creating a risk of contact with the victims.
Upcoming Ruling and Royal Family Statement
Høiby’s criminal trial concluded with prosecutors seeking a seven-year sentence. He will remain in custody until the ruling is delivered, which is expected in early June. The Norwegian royal family were not present for the trial earlier this year, as they released a statement in January before the trial began to explain why they would not be attending the court proceedings.
In a statement posted on the Norwegian Royal Family website, they said: "We are thinking a lot about all the parties involved in this matter. This is something that affects them, their families, those who love them. We care about them. We know that many of you are going through a difficult time right now. At the same time, it is good to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law. I am sure and have confidence that those responsible for the trial will work to ensure that it is conducted in as orderly, proper and fair a manner as possible."
