Court extends Marius Borg Høiby's pre-trial detention by four weeks

A court in the Norwegian capital Oslo has extended the pre-trial detention of the eldest son of the new Norwegian Queen Mette-Marit, Marius Borg Høiby, for another four weeks. Høiby continues to spend the arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet at the home of the Norwegian royal couple, Gut Skaugum, the NTB news agency reported. After the death of his foster grandfather, King Harald V of Norway, the 29-year-old had already agreed to an extension in advance this time.

Høiby was found guilty of 34 of 40 charges in June. The judges sentenced him to four years in prison under Norwegian law for, among other things, two counts of rape. He has been in custody since February, which has to be extended regularly. The Norwegian wants to challenge the verdict; an appeal process could start next year. The police see a risk of repetition and therefore want to keep him in custody.

In connection with the death of King Harald V at the end of August, Høiby was recently allowed out several times, among other things to be able to say goodbye to the monarch in the hospital. He will also be there at Harald's funeral on Wednesday.

Applications for release have already been rejected several times

Høiby was first arrested on August 4, 2024 because he was said to have been violent towards his ex-girlfriend and rioted in her apartment. In a public statement at the time, he admitted that he had acted "after an argument and under the influence of alcohol and cocaine."

The maximum penalty for rape in Norway is ten years in prison. The public prosecutor's office had argued that Høiby should be jailed for seven years and seven months. His defense had suggested one and a half years. She wanted him to be acquitted of the rape charges because it was one statement against another.