Norway’s crown prince’s stepson sentenced to four years in prison for rape

The stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon was convicted on Monday of rape and domestic violence, receiving a four-year prison sentence following a seven-week trial that has tarnished the royal family’s previously flawless reputation.

The Oslo District Court found 29-year-old Marius Borg Hoiby guilty of two counts of rape, one of which occurred in the basement of the crown prince’s residence. Hoiby became part of the royal family when his mother, Mette-Marit, married Haakon in 2001.

He was found not guilty of two additional rape charges.

During the trial, the court was presented with evidence of Hoiby’s drug addiction, self-made videos of sexual encounters, and hundreds of incriminating electronic messages exchanged with a former partner.

Prosecutors, who had requested a sentence of seven years and seven months in prison, stated that the four women alleging rape, in both confirmed and unconfirmed instances, were each time too unconscious or incapacitated to resist him after attending parties. “The court finds it is proven she was unable to resist the action,” judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad remarked regarding the rape at the crown prince’s residence while delivering the verdict.

Hoiby had pleaded not guilty to the most serious accusations against him, including rape and domestic violence, while admitting to some lesser charges, including the transportation and delivery of 3.5 kg (7.7 pounds) of marijuana to an unidentified person, violating restraining orders, and traffic violations.

Both Hoiby’s attorney, Petar Sekulic, and the prosecution indicated that they might pursue an appeal of the verdict.

The royal household, which has previously conveyed sympathy for all those impacted by the case, chose not to respond to Monday’s verdict. A palace spokesperson said in an email, “The courts have reviewed the issue, and we have no further comments.”

No other members of the royal family were present at the trial.

Hoiby assaulted and choked his girlfriend.

Hoiby was found guilty of domestic violence against a former girlfriend from mid-2022 to autumn 2023.

He struck her in the face with his fist multiple times, choked her, slammed a door in her face, and hurled objects at her, as the court was informed during the trial.

Hoiby observed the verdict through a video link from prison, remaining unseen and unheard in the courtroom.

Only one of the women who accused him of rape was present in court for the verdict. She wept after the judge upheld her case, gently wiping her tears with a tissue provided by her lawyer.

Hoiby lacks a royal title, does not engage in official duties, and is not part of the line of succession. However, his case has captivated Norway because of his connections to the heir to the throne.

Similar to other understated Scandinavian monarchies, the Norwegian royal family is perceived as a caring and relatively unassuming unit, opting to send their children to public schools and partaking in skiing and surfing with members of the community.

However, Hoiby’s trial, which coincides with Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s apology for her connections with the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has negatively impacted their popularity.

A Norstat survey conducted on February 21 during the trial revealed a decline in the percentage of Norwegians supporting the monarchy, dropping to a record low of 60% from 70% in January. Meanwhile, those advocating for an alternative system of governance increased to 27%, up from 19%.

Their numbers, however, showed improvement in May, with 64% of those surveyed by Norstat expressing support for the monarchy, while 23% preferred an alternative system of governance.

Monday’s verdict was announced during challenging personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, who requires a lung transplant due to pulmonary fibrosis.

John Christian Elden, a lawyer representing one of the victims, informed Reuters that Hoiby’s sentence adhered to the new sentencing guidelines, which differentiate between rape involving intercourse and rape not involving sexual activity. The two counts of rape for which Hoiby was convicted did not involve intercourse.