Oslo District Court on July 27 sentenced Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, step-son of Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon, to four years in prison after convicting him of two counts of rape, domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend Nora Haukland, and drug offenses. Hoiby was also acquitted of two other rape charges due to lack of evidence regarding non-consensual encounters.
The seven-week trial rocked Norway, exposing Hoiby's troubled life, including drug addiction, self-recorded intimate videos, and 800 electronic messages presented as evidence. One of the rapes for which Hoiby was convicted occurred in the basement of the crown prince's official residence at Skaugum.
In court, Hoiby admitted to domestic violence and transporting 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) of cannabis in 2020, but denied the rape charges. He did not attend the sentencing hearing for undisclosed medical reasons, following the proceedings via video link from Oslo prison, where he has been held since February 1.
Hoiby, who became the crown prince's step-son when his mother, Mette-Marit, married the prince in 2001, spoke of growing up close to the throne without an official title. He confessed: "I was only known as the son of my mother, nothing else. And I have had an extremely great need for recognition throughout my life, and it manifested through lots of sex, lots of drugs, and lots of alcohol."
Crown Prince Haakon distanced the royal family from the case, telling reporters that Hoiby is not a member of the royal family and must face legal accountability like any Norwegian citizen. "He is a Norwegian citizen, and thus has the same responsibilities as everyone else," Haakon stated.
