The trial of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's eldest son has begun in Norway
On Tuesday, 3 February, the trial of 29-year-old Marius Borg Høie, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, began in Oslo. The prosecution has charged him with four counts of rape, as well as physical and psychological abuse of several former partners and a number of other serious offences, according to The Guardian.
At the first hearing in Oslo District Court, Heiby stated that he did not admit his guilt in the rapes. At the same time, he admitted full or partial guilt on some of the less serious charges. In total, the indictment contains 38 counts covering the period from 2018 to 2024. If found guilty, he faces up to 16 years in prison. The trial is expected to last about seven weeks and could end in mid-March.
According to the investigation, during the alleged crimes, the women were in a state where they were unable to resist. Some episodes involve the illegal filming of victims without their consent. Video recordings from mobile phones seized during the investigation are considered important evidence in the case. For the safety of the victims, they will only be shown in closed court sessions.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo emphasised that, regardless of the defendant's background, he would be treated equally before the law, without any leniency or additional severity. He also noted that in a number of episodes, criminal proceedings were initiated by the state, not by the victims themselves.
On the eve of the trial, Heiby was again detained on suspicion of causing bodily harm, threatening with a knife and violating a court order prohibiting contact. The court ruled that he should be held in custody until at least 2 March due to the risk of repeat offences. The investigation against him has been ongoing since 2024 and has already put the Norwegian royal family in a difficult public situation. Heyby is a member of the Crown Princess's family, but does not have the title of prince and is not part of the official royal household.
