Rape: Prosecutors seek seven-year jail term for Norway princess’ son

Court

Prosecutors in Norway called Wednesday for the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Marius Borg Hoiby, to serve seven years and seven months in prison for offences including raping four women.

Hoiby, the princess’s 29-year-old son from a relationship before her 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, is on trial on 40 counts that carry a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison.

“Rape can leave lasting scars and destroy lives,” prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo argued on the second-to-last day of the trial before an Oslo court, a case that has made headlines worldwide.

“It can be something the victim carries with them for their entire life.”

Dressed in jeans and a blue sweater, Hoiby, who does not formally belong to the royal household, did not react to the sentence called for by the prosecutor.

Hoiby has pleaded guilty to several relatively minor offences, but has denied the alleged rapes, which the prosecution said took place while the women were asleep or passed out.

Central to the case has been whether or not the women were in a condition to object to having sex. 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 to be rapes.

Until they were called in for questioning by police, the four alleged victims had been unaware of what had happened to them or that the actions could — according to the prosecution — be considered criminal.

Following the prosecution’s closing arguments, lawyers for the alleged victims were to address the court, after which Hoiby’s lawyers were to present their final arguments on Thursday.