Son of Norway’s crown princess denies four counts of rape as trial begins

The son of Norway’s crown princess has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape on the first day of his trial for multiple offences, a legal saga that has embarrassed the royal family and raised questions over domestic abuse in Norway.Appearing in front of a packed courtroom at Oslo District Court on Tuesday morning, Marius Borg Høiby also denied charges including abuse in close relationships and filming women’s genitals without their knowledge.Høiby, 29, pleaded guilty to charges including sexually offensive behaviour, a serious drug offence, violation of a restraining order and several driving-related offences. He pleaded partially guilty to serious bodily harm, reckless behaviour and violation of a restraining order.His pleas for two of the charges, bodily injury and two cases of damage, were inaudible. He faces 38 charges in total.The lead prosecutor, Sturla Henriksbø, said that despite Høiby’s status there should be “equality before the law”.“The defendant is the son of the crown princess. He is part of the royal family. He should still be treated equally like any other person charged with the same offences. He should not be treated more severely or more leniently because of those with whom he is related,” Henriksbø told the court.The lead prosecutor, Sturla Henriksbø (right), in court on Tuesday. He said that despite Høiby’s status there should be ‘equality before the law’. Photograph: Ole Berg-Rusten/ReutersHe added: “There is no requirement for a prosecution request from the victims. It is society’s responsibility to prosecute serious crimes, regardless of whether the victim themselves wants it. In several of these cases, it is not the victim who has come to the police and said ‘I have been subjected to something criminal’.”Wearing a brown woollen jumper with a white shirt underneath, Høiby sat between his defence lawyers in court. Although not a formal member of the royal family, he was thrust into the spotlight as a young child when his mother, Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne.His appearance at the trial, which is expected to last seven weeks, came after Høiby was arrested on Sunday evening on new charges of assault, making threats with a knife and violating a restraining order.On Monday, at the request of police, Oslo District Court ruled he would be remanded in custody until otherwise decided by the prosecuting authority or court until 2 March.The trial continues.