The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess was charged with 32 counts, including at least four counts of rape, following a lengthy investigation which could see him behind bars for up to a decade.
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Norwegian prosecutors announced on Monday that they’ve indicted the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Marius Borg Høiby, on multiple charges following a lengthy investigation.
State media reported that Oslo state attorney Sturla Henriksbø says Høiby could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Høiby was charged with close to three dozen counts, including multiple counts of rape and abuse.
He was also charged with other offences including violence against a former partner, making death threats and traffic violations.
Høiby has no royal title or official duties and has been under domestic scrutiny following a string of arrests and allegations of wrongdoing last year.
The 28-year-old, who is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, is currently free pending trial, with state prosecutors seeing no reason to arrest and jail him just yet.
Henriksbø believes the trial could start around mid-January next year, and last for around six weeks.
Høiby’s defence attorney Petar Sekuli said in an emailed statement in response to the indictment that his client “denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence.”
He also noted that Høiby will “present a detailed account of his version of events before the court.”
Norway’s royal palace says it’s up to the courts to litigate this matter and was not prepared to comment further.