Oslo, Norway – Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, vehemently denied allegations of sexual assault during a court appearance Thursday, asserting that any sexual activity with the accuser was consensual. Høiby’s testimony came in response to claims made by a second woman alleging rape while she slept, a charge he dismissed as baseless.
“We had very normal, voluntary, pleasant sex,” Høiby told the court, according to Norwegian media reports. “She was awake when I had sex with her. I want to say that,” he added, directly refuting the woman’s account. He further denied allegations that he filmed the woman while she was asleep.
The case, which began earlier this week, centers around accusations of sexual assault in two separate incidents. The first involves an alleged incident at the royal residence of Skaugum, and the second occurred in the Lofoten islands. Høiby previously denied the first set of allegations, stating he does not engage in sexual activity with unconscious women.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Høiby described a scenario where he awoke the woman before engaging in sexual activity, initiating contact in an intimate manner. “If you’re in bed and have had sex before, I witness that as: ‘hey, shall we continue?’” he stated, adding that he personally finds being awakened through touch “exciting.”
The prosecution presented evidence including data from a heart rate monitor worn by the alleged victim in Lofoten, which a sleep expert, Ståle Pallesen, testified supported her account. Pallesen explained that the data showed a low heart rate indicative of deep sleep, followed by a sudden increase coinciding with the alleged assault. However, Pallesen cautioned that the data could not definitively prove the assault occurred or determine whether the sex was involuntary.
Two witnesses who were with Høiby on the night of the alleged Lofoten assault described him as “dominant and aggressive,” according to reporting from RTL Boulevard. One witness stated, “It started cozy, but after a while I became uncomfortable.” She described Høiby as being loud, disregarding requests, and encouraging excessive alcohol consumption. Another witness reported a “tense atmosphere” when others resisted Høiby’s attempts to encourage further drinking, characterizing his behavior as “a bit authoritarian.”
Høiby’s defense has focused on challenging the accusers’ accounts and portraying the encounters as consensual. The court as well examined Høiby’s internet search history, which has been described as “dubious” by some reports, though the specific nature of those searches has not been publicly detailed.
The trial continues Friday with further witness testimony scheduled. The court has not yet indicated a timeline for a verdict, and Høiby remains free pending the outcome of the proceedings. A ten-year prison sentence is not excluded, according to RTL.
