Son of Norway’s crown princess cries at rape trial and denies movies present assault | EUROtoday

The son of Norway’s crown princess broke down on Wednesday as he denied that movies on his cellphone confirmed acts of rape, through the first day of his testimony in his trial for rape and home violence.

In a case that has shaken the embattled Norwegian royal household, Marius Borg Høiby, 29, who joined when his mom Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, mentioned his upbringing within the public eye since he was a toddler had led him to crave drink and intercourse.

He might face years in jail if discovered responsible of probably the most severe of the 38 expenses towards him.

On Tuesday, the primary day of his trial, he pleaded not responsible to probably the most severe expenses of rape and home violence however acknowledged partial guilt – a plea allowed below Norwegian regulation – for aggravated assault and reckless behaviour. He additionally admitted lesser expenses, together with driving too quick.

The trial has transfixed Norway at a time when his mom the crown princess additionally faces recent scrutiny over revelations about her ties to the late U.S. intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Høiby says few can perceive his life

Breaking down in tears, Høiby mentioned it was arduous to testify in a courtroom filled with reporters.

“I have been surrounded by the press since I was three. I have been harassed ever since,” he mentioned. He mentioned he had acquired “heavy medication” and would attempt to do his finest in courtroom.

“I am known as the son of Mummy,” he mentioned, referring to Mette-Marit. “Which means I have an extreme need for affirmation,” he mentioned. “A lot of sex, a lot of alcohol.”

“Few can relate to the life I have led. A lot of parties, alcohol, some drugs,” he mentioned.

Wearing denims and a darkish blue jumper over a beige shirt, Høiby, who spoke together with his arms crossed over his chest, generally consulted his handwritten notes in a pocket book.

Among the costs towards Høiby are one rely of rape with sexual activity and three counts of rape with out intercourse, a few of which he filmed on his phone, the prosecution has mentioned.

He mentioned he had by no means shared the movies and denied they depicted intercourse with out consent.

“If I had thought I had material that showed an assault, I would never have kept that material,” he mentioned.

Video

Wednesday’s testimony centered on an after-party within the basement of the Crown Prince’s household residence on the outskirts of Oslo in 2018, the place the prosecution says Høiby filmed himself performing a intercourse act on a lady who was unconscious. Police confirmed the video to the courtroom behind closed doorways on Tuesday.

Høiby mentioned he had intercourse with the girl however didn’t carry out a second intercourse act along with her whereas she was unconscious, or movie it.

“We had completely normal sex, as far as I can remember,” mentioned Høiby. “Afterwards, I told her to go. So I called her a taxi.”

“I don’t have sex with people who are not awake.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the alleged sufferer, who can’t be recognized to guard her privateness, testified she learnt in regards to the alleged rape when police contacted her in regards to the video, and she or he had not consented to the sexual act that was filmed. The prosecution mentioned the girl was not ready to consent.

Høiby’s trial is scheduled to run till March 19.

Monarchy going through a number of challenges

Norway’s royal household faces a number of challenges along with the trial and ongoing scrutiny of Mette-Marit’s ties to Epstein.

The royal palace advised Reuters on Wednesday Mette-Marit had postponed till additional discover a deliberate non-public journey overseas, with out offering additional particulars. That information was first reported by day by day Aftenposten.

An opinion ballot carried out on Monday for day by day newspaper Verdens Gang confirmed a fall within the variety of Norwegians in favour of protecting the monarchy – to 61% from 72% final yr – and a 10-percentage-point rise to 27% in those that need a republic.

King Harald, 88, Europe’s oldest dwelling monarch, in the reduction of exercise in 2024 after being hospitalised to deal with an an infection and later receiving a pacemaker.

Mette-Marit herself is in want of a lung transplant after being identified with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a power illness that causes scarring within the lungs.

King Harald’s daughter, Martha Louise, stepped down from official royal duties in 2022 to pursue her personal enterprise ventures, and mentioned she and her husband, an American self-styled shaman, would chorus from utilizing her title as princess in a business setting.

They each acquired criticism final yr for starring in a Netflix documentary chronicling their day by day lives, together with their marriage ceremony, and for being essential of the king and queen.