Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison, a verdict announced earlier this morning. Following the ruling, Høiby expressed his desire to be released from custody.
This plea came shortly after the court read its decision.
Just last week, Høiby had requested release based on concerns for his mother’s health, but that appeal was denied.
At 29 years old, Høiby faced charges related to four incidents of rape, alongside multiple counts of violence — a total of 40 offences in all.
While he was convicted of two rapes, he was acquitted of the other two charges. Nonetheless, he was found guilty on several additional counts.
The rapes for which he was convicted occurred in 2018 and 2024.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø (Photo: NTB/Ritzau Scanpix)
The prosecution sought a longer sentence
During the trial, Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø argued passionately that Høiby should be held accountable for 39 out of the 40 offences he faced. He highlighted three alarming patterns in Høiby’s behavior:
– First, Henriksbø noted a blatant disregard for laws, social boundaries, and basic decency.
– Second, he described Høiby as someone who feels entitled to take matters into his own hands, seemingly unconcerned about whether women approve of his actions, including touching and filming them.
– Lastly, he characterized Høiby as a man struggling with anger management, prone to jealousy, and particularly volatile when intoxicated.
“We believe the court has a solid foundation for its judgement, supported by evidence including testimonies from the women involved and the video footage that captures the incidents,” Henriksbø told Dagbladet.
The prosecution had initially requested a sentence of six years and six months. Høiby’s defense team argued that, given his admissions of guilt on several charges, a sentence of 18 months was more appropriate. Ultimately, the judges of the Oslo Tribunal decided on a four-year sentence.
The comprehensive judgment spans 128 pages.
Defense attorneys Ellen Holager Andenæs and Petar Sekulic stand by their client. (Photo: NTB/Ritzau Scanpix)
Exploring an appeal
“We are currently assessing the possibility of appealing these serious charges for which he was convicted but did not admit guilt,” stated Ellen Holager Andenæs, one of Høiby’s defense attorneys, in an interview with NRK.
The Norwegian royal family has chosen not to comment on the verdict.
In addition to his prison sentence, Marius Borg Høiby has been ordered to pay NOK 640,000 in compensation to the four victims, amounting to over 435,000 ISK.
