In just over a week’s time, Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, will be heading to court to begin a lengthy trial. He has already been charged with 32 counts, including alleged rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, and acts of violence against another, making death threats, and traffic violations.
However, Høiby has now had six new charges added to his indictment. The most serious of the new charges is said to have occurred in July 2020, when he was said to have received and transported at least 3.5 kilograms of marijuana from Lørenskog to Tønsberg, where he delivered it to a person. Other new charges include two alleged violations of a restraining order and three offences under the Traffic Act.
His trial is currently set to begin in Oslo on February 3 and is expected to last until March 14.
Høiby allegedly assaulted the women while they were sleeping. He is currently free pending trial, and Oslo state attorney Sturla Henriksbo said there is currently no reason to arrest and jail him.
Henriksbo said: “This case is very serious. Rape and violence in close relationships are very serious acts that can leave lasting traces and destroy lives. The fact that Marius Borg Høiby is a member of the Royal Family should, of course, not mean that he should be treated more lightly or more severely than if similar acts had been committed by others.”
Until the end of last year, his family had largely remained silent on the case and the troubles Høiby has faced; however, in an interview with The Times at the end of December, his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, and even King Harald and Queen Sonja spoke about what lies ahead for him.
Speaking alongside her husband, the Crown Princess spoke about the limitations she has owing to her pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis, before rejecting claims that she had tipped her son off about his impending arrest with a phone call.
“I think it’s been quite a strain to be accused of such serious things, which of course I did not do,” Mette-Marit said. “The thing that perhaps upsets me the most is being criticised for how we’ve handled it as parents, that we didn’t take it seriously. I find that hard.”
Mette-Marit said the family had sought “professional help” for her son. “So it feels a little unfair [to claim] that we didn’t take the situation seriously, because I think we have,” she said. “Being a parent is the most vulnerable thing you can do. And I think all parents … will recognise that there is an incredible amount of self-blame involved.”
Marius’s step-grandfather, King Harald, also commented on the case. He said he felt it was “not possible” to prepare for Hoiby’s trial. “But now it is in the hands of the court. Then we will take what comes,” he said. Queen Sonja added: “But it’s not exactly something you look forward to.”
The King explained the Royal Family would try to proceed with “business as usual” but added: “I’d like to say that we feel for all those who are affected. We feel for them and hope they will be OK and get better after the trial.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
