Norwegian court denies request from ailing crown princess' son
Norway’s appeals court rejected Marius Borg Høiby’s request to leave custody ahead of his June 15 rape trial verdict, despite his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. Høiby, 29, faces 40 charges and has been detained since February, with the court citing unchanged risk factors for reoffending.
A Norwegian appeals court ruled on June 10 to deny Marius Borg Høiby’s request for release while awaiting his rape trial verdict, scheduled for June 15. Høiby, 29, has been in custody since February following new allegations of assault and violating a restraining order. The court overturned a lower court’s decision that had granted his temporary release, stating his risk of reoffending remained ‘virtually unchanged.’ Høiby’s defense argued his presence in prison was unbearable due to his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, battling pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung condition. Doctors recently added her to a lung transplant list. The appeals court rejected this appeal, emphasizing that Høiby’s case was not about willpower but risk assessment, noting he would not receive special treatment due to his family situation. Høiby faces 40 criminal charges, including four counts of rape, which he denies, alongside admissions for lesser offenses like drug possession and traffic violations. Additional charges involve violence, threats, and abusive behavior in relationships. The trial stems from his August 2024 arrest, though he is not a member of Norway’s royal family. The ruling highlighted that Høiby’s detention was necessary to mitigate risks, despite his personal circumstances. His legal team expressed disappointment, calling the decision ‘almost incomprehensible.’ The case continues as the court prepares to deliver its final verdict on June 15.
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