An appeal court in Norway has overturned a lower court ruling
that would have seen Marius Borg Høiby released from custody ahead
of a verdict in his high-profile criminal trial, despite arguments
that he should be allowed to support his seriously ill mother,
Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The ruling, handed down by the Borgarting Court of Appeal in
Oslo on Wednesday, means the 29-year-old son of the crown princess
will remain behind bars until judges deliver their verdict next
week. Høiby faces 40 criminal charges, including allegations of
rape, violence, threats and abusive behaviour, many of which he
denies.
His lawyers had successfully persuaded a district court on
Monday that continued detention was no longer justified. The lower
court concluded that while there remained a marginal risk of
reoffending, Høiby had remained drug-free in prison and that
keeping him in custody would be “disproportionately intrusive”.
However, the appeal court disagreed, finding that the risk of
further offending had not materially changed since a previous
ruling in May. Judges also cited concerns that Høiby could have
contact with a former girlfriend at the centre of part of the
prosecution case.
The decision comes as concern grows over the health of Crown
Princess Mette-Marit, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in
2018. The 52-year-old was placed on a lung transplant waiting list
last week after doctors said her condition had deteriorated
significantly in recent months.
During proceedings, Høiby argued that being unable to support
his mother during her illness was deeply distressing.
“Sitting inside when I know Mum is so sick is unbearable,” he
told the district court.
His defence team maintained that his mother’s worsening health
justified his temporary release. Following Wednesday’s ruling,
defence lawyer Ellen Holager Andenæs said they were “very, very
disappointed” and suggested the decision would be devastating for
their client.
The case against Høiby began in August 2024 when he was arrested
at the Oslo apartment of a former partner. Since then, prosecutors
have brought a wide range of allegations, including four counts of
rape. Høiby denies the rape accusations, although he has admitted
several lesser offences, including drug possession and
traffic-related crimes.
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of seven years and
seven months if he is convicted.
The trial has attracted intense scrutiny in Norway and cast a
shadow over the royal household. Although Høiby is not a member of
the Norwegian royal family and has no constitutional role, he was
raised alongside the children of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her
husband, Crown Prince Haakon, after their marriage in 2001.
The crown prince and princess visited Høiby in prison last
weekend after it emerged that Mette-Marit had been placed on the
transplant waiting list. Their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra
and Prince Sverre Magnus, also travelled to see him following their
mother’s admission to hospital.
Høiby was briefly allowed to leave prison on Monday to attend a
meeting with his mother’s medical team at the royal family’s
Skaugum estate outside Oslo.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and incurable lung disease
that causes scarring of the lungs, making breathing increasingly
difficult. Last week, Mette-Marit’s consultant, Dr Are Holm of Oslo
University Hospital, revealed that patients placed on the
transplant waiting list are generally believed to have a life
expectancy of less than a year without the procedure.
The illness has prompted rare public concern within Norway’s
royal family. During an engagement on Tuesday, King Harald V and
Queen Sonja of Norway were asked about the crown princess’s
condition, with Queen Sonja responding simply: “The situation is
serious.”
A verdict in Høiby’s trial is expected next Monday.