The eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit faced intense questioning in court Thursday, vehemently denying accusations of drugging anyone. Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, stands accused of rape and over thirty other offenses, charges he has pleaded not guilty to, particularly the most serious allegations of rape and domestic violence.
The courtroom was gripped by the testimony of the first alleged victim, who stated with unwavering conviction that she believed she was drugged before being assaulted at an afterparty in December 2018. The party took place in the basement of the crown prince’s family residence, a detail that amplified the gravity of the allegations.
“I suspect that I probably ingested something without my knowledge,” she told the court, her voice resonating with the lingering trauma. When directly asked if she believed she had been drugged, her response was stark and absolute: “That’s what I believe. 100%.”
Prosecutors have outlined a disturbing pattern, alleging that all four rapes attributed to Hoiby occurred after initially consensual encounters. These encounters often followed nights of heavy drinking, leaving the women, they argue, vulnerable and unable to defend themselves.
Hoiby’s defense team countered these claims, asserting that he genuinely believed all acts were consensual and perceived them as normal sexual relations. This fundamental disagreement over the nature of consent forms the core of the legal battle.
During his testimony, Hoiby addressed the prosecution’s line of questioning regarding his cellphone search history, which included searches for the word “rape.” His response was dismissive, claiming he had “looked at a lot of weird stuff,” offering little explanation for the unsettling searches.
The prosecution focused heavily on an alleged incident from the 2018 afterparty, claiming Hoiby filmed himself performing a sex act on an unconscious woman shortly after they had engaged in consensual sex. The existence of such a recording is a pivotal point in the case.
Hoiby flatly denied the allegation that he filmed any of the sexual encounters with the alleged victim. He acknowledged having sex with the woman but insisted he did not perform a second act while she was unconscious and vehemently denied capturing it on video.
“If I had thought I had material that showed an assault, I would never have kept that material,” Hoiby stated, attempting to distance himself from the disturbing implications of the prosecution’s claims. His words hung in the air, a desperate attempt to salvage his reputation and freedom.
