After a lunch break in Oslo District Court, Marius Borg Høiby, wearing a dark, high-necked sweater, took a seat in the witness box to be questioned about the rape he was accused of at the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's estate Skaugum in 2018.
Høiby immediately burst into tears and said that it is "incredibly difficult to speak in front of so many people." He also criticized the media, which he says has "harassed and tormented him" since he was three.
The "Bonus Prince" sat with his arms crossed and looked straight at the judges as he spoke. He first spoke of a life "very few here can relate to," characterized by a lot of partying, alcohol and drugs.
I am known for being my mother's son. Nothing else. I have had an extreme need for affirmation.
Claims consensual sex
According to Høiby, he and the plaintiff took a taxi to the after-party in the basement of the Crown Prince and Princess's residence on the night in question. The Crown Prince and Princess were at home, yet cocaine was taken at the party, he says.
However, the accounts of the 2018 incident differ. According to Høiby, the contact with the woman was intense and flirtatious earlier in the evening. The woman, for her part, has described a brief voluntary sexual incident in a toilet, which Høiby says he does not remember.
Wednesday's hearing began with testimony from the woman who alleges the assault. She is believed to have been knocked unconscious during the alleged assault and has described it as everything "going black" during the after-party - leading her to believe she was drugged.
The defense's line is that the plaintiff had sex with Høiby voluntarily.
Pressured by the prosecutor
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø pressed Høiby on whether the woman was awake when they had sex. The "Bonus Prince" answered in the affirmative and was asked how he remembered it.
"I don't sleep with women who aren't awake," Høiby replied.
The prosecutor also asked questions about the videos on Høiby's phone, where the woman said during her testimony that she appeared "completely unconscious."
"I don't remember recording them. But then, we had sex completely awake and voluntarily. I don't remember much of it either," Høiby replies.
However, in a sober state the next day, he saw that there were recordings on the phone.
Heard about the phone
If he had seen it as criminal acts, he says, he would not have voluntarily handed the phone over to the police. He also denies that Crown Princess Mette-Marit handled the phone.
"A lot of people have speculated that mom took out the SIM card. That absolutely hasn't happened," says Høiby.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Crown Princess Mette-Marit was canceling her planned trip abroad, which was to take place at the same time as the trial.
At 3:30 p.m., the proceedings ended and Høiby's testimony will likely continue on Thursday, according to Norwegian media.
Marius Borg Høiby is 29 years old and the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship with Morten Borg. Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001.
Marius Borg Høiby has been charged with 38 crimes, including assaulting a former girlfriend and four counts of rape. According to the prosecutor, they occurred while the victims were sleeping and were filmed by Høiby.
He has previously admitted to certain crimes, but denied the rape allegations.
The trial is expected to last at least six weeks. Høiby faces up to 16 years in prison.
