In a landmark case that has captivated Norway, prosecutors have formally requested a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, concluding their arguments in a trial that has dominated national headlines for nearly seven weeks.
The 29-year-old defendant faces an extensive list of 40 criminal charges, with prosecutors advocating for convictions on 39 counts. The most severe allegations include four distinct rape charges and serious assault. Høiby has entered not guilty pleas for these primary accusations while admitting to lesser offenses including drug transportation, traffic violations, and breaching a restraining order.
State Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø presented the prosecution’s final arguments this week at Oslo District Court, emphasizing that the case should be judged solely on factual evidence rather than the defendant’s royal connections. ‘He is not a monster,’ Henriksbø stated during his summation, ‘but must be judged for what he has done.’
The prosecution’s case hinges on compelling evidence including non-consensual videos documenting three of the alleged rape incidents. Central to their argument is the assertion that the victims were either asleep or otherwise incapacitated during the assaults—a claim directly contradicting Høiby’s defense that all sexual encounters were consensual.
Henriksbø detailed the recommended sentencing structure: three rape charges should carry two-year terms each, while a fourth more severe incident warranted a three-year sentence. ‘Rape can leave lasting scars and destroy lives,’ the prosecutor told the court, emphasizing the gravity of these offenses.
The trial has placed unprecedented scrutiny on the Norwegian royal family, coinciding with separate revelations about Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Høiby himself testified about the crushing psychological toll of media coverage, lamenting that public perception had transformed him from ‘Marius’ to ‘a monster.’
With the prosecution’s case now complete, defense attorneys are preparing their closing arguments. Legal commentators suggest that while Høiby will likely receive reduced sentencing for admitted offenses, the court must weigh the serious nature of the rape allegations against a backdrop of intense public interest and judicial scrutiny.