Stockholm/Copenhagen, July 13, (dpa/GNA) – The eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Marius Borg Høiby, is to be released from custody, but must remain under house arrest.
A court in Oslo ruled on Monday that pre-trial detention would continue for a further four weeks, but that the 29-year-old could serve this period under house arrest wearing an electronic tag, the broadcaster NRK reported.
The prosecution has lodged an appeal, so Høiby will not be released immediately. Høiby was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment in June, but the verdict is not yet final. He was found guilty of two counts of rape under Norwegian law, and of violence against an ex-girlfriend.
A restraining order is in place regarding her, which Høiby has already breached on several occasions. The police considered there to be a risk that Høiby might commit further offences. The prosecution had therefore requested a four-week extension of his pre-trial detention.
Høiby’s lawyer, Petar Sekulic, said his client was satisfied with the decision. “This is an option he can live with over the next few weeks, and then we’ll see what happens after that,” said Sekulic. The lawyer representing Høiby’s ex-girlfriend declined to comment.
Høiby has been in pre-trial detention since his trial began in February. He had applied for release several times to be with his mother, Mette-Marit, who suffers from a serious lung condition.
Until now, however, his applications had always been denied. Høiby has lodged an appeal against the prison sentence. A possible appeal hearing could take place next year.
GNA