Eldest son of Norway's crown princess sentenced to 4 years in prison for rape

World Eldest son of Norway's crown princess sentenced to 4 years in prison for rape June 15, 20264:25 AM ET By  The Associated Press FILE - Norway's Marius Borg Hoiby and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in Oslo, June 16, 2022. Lise Aserud/NTB Scanpix via AP hide caption toggle caption Lise Aserud/NTB Scanpix via AP Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was sentenced to four years in prison Monday after being convicted of rape. He was found guilty of two of the four rape charges he was facing and acquitted of the other two. Høiby had been charged with sexually assaulting four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024. He also faced other charges for lesser offenses, including assault, drug-related crimes and violations of a restraining order. Høiby had denied the rape allegations but admitted to several of the lesser offenses. Sponsor Message Høiby, 29, faced 40 criminal charges, including four counts of rape and allegations involving violence, threats and abuse. Prosecutors had asked Oslo District Court to sentence him to seven years and seven months in prison, while defense lawyers had argued that he should be acquitted of the rape allegations and receive no more than 18 months for offenses he had admitted to. The six-week trial concluded in March after testimony from multiple accusers and presentation of evidence, including messages, images and videos from Høiby's cellphone. The rape charges involve four different women between 2018 and 2024. In each case, the women are alleged to have been sleeping or heavily incapacitated. The case has generated intense international attention because of Høiby's connection to the royal family. Although he holds no royal title and has no official duties, he's the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to Norway's throne, and he grew up in the household with the future king. Europe Epstein files f...