There has been a new legal development in the case of Marius Borg Høiby (29). The Borgarting Court of Appeals has decided to grant the 29-year-old’s appeal. As a result, the case will be heard again. According to reports from Norway, the retrial will address both the question of guilt and the sentence.
Høiby was sentenced to four years in prison in Oslo in June. The sentence covered two counts of rape under Norwegian law, abuse in an intimate relationship, assault, and several violations of a no-contact order.
Marius Borg Høiby Filed an Appeal Against Parts of the Ruling
The son of Norway’s new Queen Mette-Marit, from a previous relationship, appealed his convictions for two counts of rape and domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, Nora H. According to Se og Hør, the appeals court will now review both the question of guilt and the severity of the sentence. The court also stated that preparations for the proceedings will begin immediately. A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
The Prosecutor’s Office Also Filed an Appeal Regarding the Sentence
The defense was not the only side to file an appeal. The relevant prosecutor’s office also challenged the sentence. This appeal was initially set aside because Høiby’s appeal already covers both the question of guilt and the sentence. A date for the new hearing has not yet been set.
First Held in Pretrial Detention, Then Placed Under House Arrest With an Ankle Monitor at Skaugum
Høiby had been held in pretrial detention since February. Since mid-July, he has been serving his sentence under electronic monitoring at Skaugum Estate, the Norwegian royal family’s country residence. His mother, Mette-Marit, also lives there.
This has drawn additional attention to the new proceedings, as the case has been closely linked to the Norwegian royal family for months. The Court of Appeals’ review will now focus on the points Høiby challenged in his appeal.
Memorial Service for King Harald V Shortly Before the New Phase of the Trial
On Wednesday, despite being under electronic monitoring, the 29-year-old attended the memorial service for his step-grandfather, King Harald V, at Oslo Cathedral. He had already been seen outside Skaugum on several occasions.
This included a visit to Oslo’s National Hospital, where he reportedly said goodbye to the monarch shortly before Harald V died on August 28. The new phase of the legal proceedings therefore begins during a week in which Høiby was also seen in public with his family.
