Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s crown princess, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of several offences, including two counts of rape. He was also sentenced to a two-year restraining order against one of his alleged victims.
The verdict was handed down by the Oslo district court on Monday morning, nearly three months since Høiby’s closely watched six-week trial.
Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad convicted him of assaulting his former girlfriend Nora Haukland, the only alleged victim to have been publicly named. Høiby was acquitted of two other charges of rape.
Høiby faced 40 charges, including four counts of rape and assault, several breaches of restraining orders, as well as drug and driving offences. One charge of violating a restraining order was later overturned.
Høiby, 29, had pleaded not guilty to the most serious accusations against him, including rape, while admitting to some lesser offences. He can appeal against the verdict.
The trial came at a difficult time for the Norwegian royal family, which has been grappling with the serious illness of Høiby’s mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit. She has also faced scrutiny over her past association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Last week, Oslo district court agreed to release Høiby, who has been in custody since shortly before his trial began on 3 February, so that he could spend time with his mother as she awaits a lung transplant. However, the request was overturned by the court of appeal.
The trial has attracted significant attention in Norway and abroad. Before the hearing on Monday, journalists queued outside the court before it opened at 7.30am.