Rape trial begins in Oslo for son of Norway’s crown princess | CBC Information – Worldwide Dispatch

The trial of the son of Norway’s crown princess, on prices that embody rape, began on Tuesday, opening weeks of proceedings in a case that has solid a shadow on the royal household’s picture.

Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a earlier relationship and the stepson of the inheritor to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. Høiby has no royal title or official duties.

He has been underneath scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 on numerous allegations of wrongdoing.

Høiby took his seat on the Oslo district courtroom Tuesday morning for the trial, which is scheduled to final till March 19.

He faces 38 counts. They embody rape, abuse in a detailed relationship in opposition to one former associate, acts of violence in opposition to one other and transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. Different prices embody making loss of life threats and site visitors violations.

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Prosecutors have stated that Høiby may withstand 10 years in jail, if convicted. Seven alleged victims are anticipated to testify.

Reflecting worldwide curiosity within the trial, the choose addressed the courtroom in English, warning that it was prohibited to document or take pictures within the courtroom and advising that a number of the testimony of witnesses could be heard behind closed doorways.

Høiby’s defence workforce has stated that he “denies all prices of sexual abuse, in addition to nearly all of the costs relating to violence.”

He was free pending trial till Sunday, when police stated he was arrested over new allegations of assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order.

The Oslo courtroom on Monday granted their request to maintain him in detention for as much as 4 weeks on the grounds of a danger of reoffending. Defence lawyer Petar Sekulic stated the arrest adopted an alleged “incident” involving one other individual on Sunday.

Shadow on royals’ picture

He declined to offer particulars, however stated Høiby contests his detention and his authorized workforce was contemplating an attraction as quickly as he and the opposite individual can present statements to police.

The indictment facilities on 4 alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024; alleged violence and threats in opposition to a former associate between the summer time of 2022 and the autumn of 2023; and two alleged acts of violence in opposition to a subsequent associate, together with violations of a restraining order.

Høiby’s defence workforce has stated that he “denies all prices of sexual abuse, in addition to nearly all of the costs relating to violence.”

Haakon stated final week that he and Mette-Marit do not plan to attend the trial and that the royal home does not intend to remark throughout the proceedings.

King Harald, 88, and the royals are typically in style in Norway, however the Høiby case has been an issue for the household’s picture.

And Høiby’s trial is opening simply as Mette-Marit faces renewed scrutiny over her previous contacts with Jeffrey Epstein following the discharge on Friday of a brand new batch of paperwork from the Epstein information. They contained a number of hundred mentions of the crown princess, who already stated in 2019 that she regretted having had contact with Epstein, Norwegian media reported.