On Wednesday, the Norwegian prosecutor's office requested a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Høiby, son of Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, who is being tried in Oslo on four counts of rape. Høiby, the product of a relationship Mette-Marit had before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, is accused of 38 offenses: in addition to the four rapes of four sleeping women, six cases of abusive sexual conduct and others of assaults, threats, serious violation of narcotics law, damages, disturbing the peace, and trafficking. «A rape can leave lasting scars and destroy lives, also those of who cannot defend themselves. That act, that moment, can be something the victim carries with them for the rest of their life,» said prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø when presenting his closing argument, as reported by Norwegian news agency NTB. Henriksbø also highlighted the accusations of assaults on an ex-girlfriend, who during the trial described her relationship with the 29-year-old as marked by violence, jealousy, and infidelity. Høiby, 29 and not a member of the Royal House, has admitted to assaults and other minor offenses, but has pleaded not guilty to the rapes, which he considers were consensual sex, as well as to filming several women without consent and to mistreatment. A trial with restrictions The trial, which has been taking place since February 3 and is expected to end this week, is subject to numerous restrictions, which include a ban on showing images of the accused and limit the reproduction of testimonies and some evidence. Høiby has previously admitted to having problems with alcohol and other drugs as well as suffering from mental disorders.
