Norwegian prosecutors seek 7-year sentence for Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son

Norwegian prosecutors are seeking seven years and seven months in prison for Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, over 40 charges including rape and domestic violence. Hoiby denies the most serious claims. The high-profile Oslo trial has also renewed scrutiny of Mette-Marit’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Norwegian prosecutors on Wednesday called for a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, in connection with multiple alleged crimes, including the rape of four women. The trial, which has lasted seven weeks in Oslo and involves the stepson of the next-in-line to the Norwegian throne, has drawn intense public attention and media scrutiny across Norway. The proceedings are scheduled to conclude on Thursday, marking the end of a case that has captivated the nation.
In court, prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo emphasized that Hoiby, who is Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship, should be treated like any other citizen, regardless of his royal connections. Henriksbo stated, "Rape can leave lasting scars and destroy lives. It can be something the victim carries with them for their entire life." The prosecution portrayed Hoiby as an individual "who thinks he can do whatever he wants," while also stressing that he should not be judged for his identity but for his actions. Henriksbo added, "Marius Borg Hoiby is not a monster. None of us are. We’re all human beings, with good and bad sides. He should not be judged for who he is, but for what he’s done."
Throughout the six-week trial, the prosecution argued that the accounts given by the victims were more credible than those of Hoiby, noting that he frequently claimed he could not clearly remember certain events. While Hoiby denies the most serious allegations, including rape, he has admitted to some lesser offenses.
The 29-year-old faces a total of 40 charges, including four counts of rape. Prosecutors allege that in some of these incidents, the victims were asleep or unconscious. In addition to sexual assault, Hoiby is accused of multiple instances of domestic violence against former partners and other crimes, including reckless driving and drug-related offenses. Prosecutors are seeking convictions on 39 of the 40 charges, requesting acquittal on a single alleged breach of a contract ban, which they describe as accidental.
Hoiby has already spent 63 days in pretrial detention, which prosecutors have requested be deducted from any potential sentence. They also asked the court to issue a two-year restraining order against a former partner. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum prison sentence of up to 16 years.
The case has also reignited scrutiny of the crown princess due to her past association with the Jeffrey Epstein. Mette-Marit has publicly apologized for exercising "poor judgment" in maintaining contact with Epstein following his 2008 conviction, a decision that has continued to draw public attention amid the current trial of her son.