Marius Borg Høiby, 29, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is awaiting a higher court decision after prosecutors appealed an Oslo court’s order to release him so he can be with his seriously ill mother. Høiby faces multiple rape charges and a verdict is due in one week; the prosecution seeks a sentence of seven years and seven months. The crown princess, 52, has pulmonary fibrosis and is on a waiting list for a lung transplant. Høiby has been in custody since early February after alleged breaches of a restraining order; the alleged victim says she wants the order to remain in place.
Higher Court To Decide If Crown Princess’s Son Can Be Released To Visit Seriously Ill Mother
A view of Norwegian newspapers on the trial of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, and contact between his mother and Epstein. (is associated with: «Higher court to decide whether son of Norway's princess may leave jail») Julia Wäschenbach/dpa
The son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit is awaiting a decision from a higher court on whether he can be released from custody to be with his seriously ill mother. A lower court in Oslo ordered his release, but the public prosecutor immediately appealed, which suspends that ruling and keeps him in custody until the appeal is resolved.
Case Details
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is on trial on multiple rape charges, with a verdict due in one week. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of seven years and seven months, while the defence seeks acquittal on the most serious counts. The Oslo court that ordered his temporary release said continued detention would be very stressful for both Høiby and his mother given her deteriorating health.
"Continuing his detention would be very stressful not only for Høiby, but also for his mother, given the already difficult situation they find themselves in," the court was quoted as saying by Verdens Gang.
Princess Mette-Marit's Health
The Crown Princess, 52, suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable chronic lung disease, and now depends on supplemental oxygen. Officials have said her condition has worsened and she has been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant.
Reports say Høiby was briefly allowed out of prison for a few hours to attend an information meeting about his mother’s condition. He has told the court it is "unbearable" to remain detained while his mother is so ill and said he would not do anything to make the situation worse.
Background And Restraining Order
Høiby has been in custody since early February after allegedly breaching a restraining order repeatedly. The woman named as an alleged victim in the trial has testified and, through her lawyer Mette Yvonne Larsen, has said she wishes to maintain the restraining order despite pressure from people in Høiby’s circle.
In May Høiby applied to be released with an electronic tag; that application failed and was considered by Norway's highest court. The recent Oslo ruling in favour of temporary release was immediately stayed when the public prosecutor appealed, so Høiby remains in custody pending the higher court's review.
What’s next: A higher court will decide whether to lift the suspension and allow the temporary release; meanwhile the trial continues and a verdict is expected within a week.
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