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New charges added amid ongoing trial
Prosecutors in Norway have filed additional charges against Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, for reckless conduct and breaching a restraining order. The new allegations emerged a month into his trial for rape and multiple other offenses.
Arrest and custody details
Høiby was detained in Oslo the day before his trial began in early February on suspicion of threats and violence against a woman in his apartment. Police held him in custody for the first four weeks of the proceedings.
While initial allegations of bodily harm and knife threats were dropped, prosecutors confirmed Høiby admitted to reckless behavior and violating a restraining order. He now faces 40 charges in total but denies the most severe accusations.
Background and family ties
The 29-year-old is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and grew up within Norway's royal family, though he holds no official royal status. His mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 when Høiby was four years old.
Key allegations and admissions
Høiby has admitted to some of the 40 charges but denies four counts of rape involving a woman who was either asleep or incapacitated after consensual intercourse. The latest charges stem from an incident involving another woman from Oslo's upscale Frogner district, whom he was legally barred from contacting.
He previously admitted to violating a restraining order related to the same woman at the trial's outset and partially acknowledges other allegations dating back to 2024.
Mental health and prior incidents
Høiby was first arrested following a violent altercation at the Frogner woman's apartment. At the time, he cited long-standing mental health struggles. Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø noted that adding charges mid-trial is uncommon but permissible if the defendant admits to the offenses. Reckless behavior carries a potential two-year prison sentence.
Trial proceedings and restrictions
By Tuesday, the Oslo District Court had completed 17 of the 28 scheduled trial days. Strict measures prohibit images of Høiby or the four women accusing him of rape. The only publicly identified accuser is his former girlfriend, Nora Haukland, a Norwegian influencer with over 100,000 Instagram followers.
Haukland testified that Høiby kicked, punched, and choked her during their 2022-23 relationship. The court heard an audio recording last week in which Høiby was heard verbally abusing her. His defense team disputes the claims, arguing Haukland did not live in fear.
Witness testimonies and potential sentencing
During Tuesday's session, former boyfriends of Haukland testified, with one describing their breakup as peaceful and another calling their relationship turbulent. If convicted of the most serious charges, Høiby could face a minimum 10-year prison sentence.
