Marius Borg Høiby (29) must expect to remain behind bars for the time being. The Norwegian prosecution has requested that the 29-year-old's pretrial detention be extended by an additional four weeks. The Oslo police announced this on Thursday in a press release, according to consistent media reports. The risk of reoffending has not decreased sufficiently at this time to justify releasing the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit (52), according to the justification.
Since the verdict on June 15, the Crown Princess's eldest son has been imprisoned in the high-security Ila prison in Bærum. The Oslo District Court had sentenced him to four years in prison for, among other things, two violations, bodily harm, serious violence, and abuse in a close relationship. The guilty verdict for abuse concerned his former girlfriend, influencer Nora Haukland (29). Høiby was acquitted on two other violation charges. He has appealed parts of the verdict, so it is not yet legally binding. He was not present at the announcement for health reasons.
Defense attorney cannot comprehend the request
His defense attorney Petar Sekulic reacted clearly. "It is very difficult to understand why they are demanding further imprisonment", the lawyer told the news agency NTB. He told the newspaper "VG": "It is very difficult to understand why the pretrial detention should be extended. In our view, the requirements for further pretrial detention are not met." The request came as a surprise, he said, adding that he wanted to save everything else for the court.
If the detention period had expired on Monday without a new request, the correctional service would have had to release Høiby. Instead, the matter will now come before the Oslo District Court on Monday, which will decide on the continuation of the detention. His defense attorneys had previously requested that he be allowed to serve the detention with an electronic ankle monitor at the Skaugum estate. The court rejected this.
The basis for the detention so far has primarily been the risk of reoffending. The Oslo District Court recently concluded that Høiby could contact his ex-girlfriend, a victim from the Oslo district of Frogner, if released. There is also a risk of renewed violence against her. Five days before the verdict was announced, the Borgarting Court of Appeal had already rejected Høiby's request for release.
