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One of Europe’s most shocking royal scandals has reached a dramatic conclusion.
Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple criminal charges, including two counts of rape.
The verdict was handed down on Monday by the Oslo District Court after a lengthy and closely watched trial that made headlines in Norway for months.
Hoiby, 29, faces dozens of charges involving multiple women.
The court ultimately found him guilty on 34 counts including rape, domestic violence, assault, drug-related offenses and other crimes. He was acquitted of several charges, including two additional charges of rape.
While Høiby is closely related to the Norwegian royal family, he does not hold any royal title and is not in the line of succession to the throne. Nevertheless, his relationship with the future king and queen has ensured intense public scrutiny of the entire affair.
according to CBS NewsProsecutors argued that many of the women involved were unable to give consent because they were unconscious or otherwise incapacitated.
One of the rape convictions involved an incident that took place in the basement of the royal family’s official residence.
The court also found Hoeby guilty of abusing former girlfriend Nora Hawkland, one of the few accused publicly identified. In addition to the prison sentence, he was ordered to pay compensation to several victims and was issued a restraining order relating to one of the women involved in the case.
Prosecutors had sought a longer sentence than seven years behind bars. Meanwhile, Hoiby’s defense team argued for a significantly reduced sentence.
The disgraced royal relative has consistently denied the rape allegations and is expected to appeal the verdict.
The affair has cast a long shadow over Norway’s royal family, which, unlike the British royal family, has traditionally enjoyed strong public support and a largely scandal-free reputation. In recent months, the trial has sparked intense debate across the country about privilege, accountability and whether royal ties have influenced the investigation.
Adding to the family’s difficulties, Crown Princess Mette-Marit is reportedly awaiting a lung transplant as she continues to battle serious health problems.
The Norwegian Royal Court has declined to comment on the decision.
With the expected appeal and public interest showing no signs of waning, this story will continue to make headlines for months to come.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
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