Marius Borg Høiby remains in pre-trial detention following ruling by Oslo District Court

Who is Marius Borg Høiby?

Marius Borg Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and is therefore a stepson of Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon. He is not himself a member of the royal family and holds no official title. His case has been attracting attention among the Norwegian public for months.

Defence lawyer Petar Sekulic said after the ruling, speaking to NTB, that he would review the verdict together with his client and consider a possible appeal. He did not initially provide details on the next steps.

Background to the allegations

According to the Norwegian Prosecuting Authority, the charges against Høiby include several offences, among them assault and violations of the Weapons Act. The exact allegations are currently being examined in ongoing proceedings.

Neither the Royal Court nor Crown Princess Mette-Marit have so far publicly commented on the current court ruling. The Norwegian Royal House merely stated that it takes the matter seriously.

The Norwegian news agency NTB first reported on the court's decision. International agencies such as the APA picked up the report shortly afterwards.

Reactions and next steps

The Oslo District Court also pointed out that the duration of pre-trial detention is reviewed regularly. According to NTB, a next date for such a review has not yet been set.

Høiby had previously been arrested following an incident that triggered the investigation. He has been in custody since then, initially with the possibility of house arrest under an electronic ankle monitor.

Significance of the ruling

The decision not to allow house arrest means that Høiby will remain in a detention facility for the time being. As a result, his access to his usual environment remains severely restricted.

Legal experts in Norway see the ruling as a sign that the judiciary is taking the police's risk assessment seriously in this case. An appeal to the next instance court would be the usual route that the defence is now considering.

The presumption of innocence applies to Høiby for as long as the proceedings continue. No verdict has yet been reached, and the investigation is ongoing.