Hoiby, 29, faced 40 counts, with prosecutors seeking a seven-year, seven-month sentence. Photo / Håkon Mosvold Larsen, AFP
Hoiby, 29, faced 40 counts, with prosecutors seeking a seven-year, seven-month sentence. Photo / Håkon Mosvold Larsen, AFP
Defence lawyers for the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit have called for him to be acquitted of charges of raping four women, and sought an 18-month sentence for lesser offences.
Marius Borg Hoiby, the princess’ 29-year-old son from a relationship before her 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, hasbeen on trial since February on 40 counts that carry a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison.
Prosecutors had on Wednesday asked the court to sentence Hoiby, who does not formally belong to the royal household, to seven years and seven months behind bars.
On the last day of the trial on Thursday, lawyer Petar Sekulic said that while his client may have acted in an “unpleasant” manner, his actions were not necessarily criminal.
The alleged rapes all took place after nights of partying, during which Hoiby had consumed alcohol and drugs, and following consensual sex.
The prosecution has said they allegedly took place while the women were asleep or passed out, including one in the basement of the residence of the crown prince couple while they were home.
For the rape charges, the main question for the court to decide will be whether or not the women were in a condition to consent to having sex.
Concerning those incidents, which Hoiby is also accused of filming or photographing, Sekulic questioned the alleged victims’ credibility and highlighted circumstances that may have led Hoiby to either believe he had their tacit consent or not understand they were asleep.
The trial against Marius Borg Hoiby is ongoing in room 250 of the Oslo District Court. Photo / Ane Hem, NTB via AFP
‘Regime of fear’
Regarding the allegations of abuse, the defence rejected the prosecution’s claim that one of his ex-girlfriends had been subjected to a “regime of fear”.
Sekulic described a turbulent relationship characterised by jealousy and heated arguments on both sides.
Hoiby, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to some of the lesser charges, including transporting 3.5kg of marijuana, physical assault, and issuing threats.
The defence called for an 18-month sentence for those offences.
However, if the judges were to find Hoiby guilty on all counts, the sentence should not exceed “five to six years” behind bars, his lawyers said.
The scandal – which has seriously damaged the Norwegian monarchy’s image – erupted on August 4, 2024, when police arrested Hoiby on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend the night before.
The investigation into that incident uncovered a slew of other suspected offences, as video footage and pictures on his phone and laptop depicted what police believed could be rapes for which he was charged.
The verdict will be announced in early June, Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad said.
