Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon were "thrown under the bus" during yesterday's negotiations, Marius Borg Høiby says as the trial resumes on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Høiby's ex Nora Haukland testified about a relationship marked by physical and psychological violence. Her statement that she had pleaded in vain with the Crown Prince and Princess to get Høiby into rehab made the most headlines.
"I don't know anyone who has ever fought harder for me to feel good. (...) The way she describes them - I get so angry," Høiby now says in tears, according to VG.
Quarrels and jealousy
In court, Haukland, who was with Høiby from 2022 to 2023, described several occasions when he had hit her and choked her. The Crown Princess's son denies most of the allegations of violence.
"I don't remember pushing her up against a wall or using a chokehold at all. I have a vague memory of maybe pushing her down on the bed," the 29-year-old said, according to Norwegian media.
Instead, he describes his relationship with Haukland as “aggressive” and “loud” on both sides, with a lot of fighting and jealousy. He admits, however, that he “may have patted her on the back at some point.”
Could face 16 years
On Tuesday, the ex-girlfriend testified, among other things, about an assault in March 2023, when Høiby allegedly punched her, called her a "fucking whore" and kicked her in the back after she fell to the floor.
"I know it never happened. I never kicked her while she was lying down," he claimed on Wednesday.
The prosecutor asked Høiby how often he called Haukland a whore and made similar remarks, VG reports.
"I don't know, in connection with arguments. For example, when she crossed the line in how she dressed or behaved, or what she posted (on social media)," he replied.
Marius Borg Høiby is on trial for a number of crimes, with four counts of rape being the most serious. He faces up to 16 years in prison.
