The legal battle over Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, has entered a new phase. His defense team appealed the four-year prison sentence Oslo District Court imposed on June 15, 2026. The appeal challenges convictions for two counts of rape and abuse in a close relationship involving his former partner, Nora Haukland. His lawyers argue that the evidence fell short of the threshold for conviction and maintain that he is innocent. The findings remain subject to appeal and are not final.
Attorney Petar Sekulic, who represents Høiby, has emphasized the burden imprisonment places on his client while the case remains unresolved. The defense has repeatedly sought his release since his imprisonment began on February 2. Norwegian courts have denied the motions, citing insufficient grounds to change his custodial status during the appeal process.
The June judgment followed a lengthy trial addressing allegations of sexual offenses and violence, alongside property damage and drug-related offenses. Høiby was convicted on two rape counts involving women who were allegedly asleep or unable to defend themselves. He was acquitted in two other alleged rape incidents, one associated with the Lofoten Islands in 2023 and the other with an Oslo hotel in November 2024. The defense appeal concerns the rape convictions and abuse in a close relationship, not every allegation examined at trial.
The prosecution has also appealed, arguing that the four-year sentence is too lenient. The appellate court could uphold the relevant convictions and impose a longer term, or overturn one or more of the challenged findings. The appeal is scheduled to begin at Borgarting Court of Appeal on February 9, 2027, with a decision expected in March. The court will reassess the evidence relating to the appealed findings.
The appellate panel is expected to comprise seven judges: two professional judges and five lay judges. A conviction requires at least five votes, including support from at least one professional judge. The case has drawn sustained public attention in Norway because Høiby is the Crown Princess’s eldest son.
The defense has also raised the effect of Høiby’s imprisonment on his family. He wants to spend time with his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who recently underwent a lung transplant. Despite these personal circumstances, the judiciary has maintained that no exceptional reasons justify his release at this stage.
This high-profile case comes as scrutiny of legal and political decisions in Norway remains intense. Recent controversies, including the public backlash faced by Pedro Sánchez in Spain after a major corruption verdict against PSOE figures, have highlighted broader challenges facing European institutions. Sánchez's response in Congress, discussed in coverage of political tensions in Spain, shows how judicial outcomes can fuel wider debate and public reaction across the continent.
Norway's legal system allows appeals in criminal cases. The Borgarting proceedings will reassess the evidence on the disputed convictions and consider the prosecution's request for a harsher sentence. The outcome will be closely watched because of Høiby's royal connections and the case's broader public significance. Until the appellate court rules, the challenged convictions and sentence remain unresolved.
