Prince Haakon speaks of the arrest of his stepson
Scandal in the Norwegian Royal House: The stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, Marius Borg Høiby, was arrested following an act of violence. The crown prince has now spoken out about the allegations against the 27-year-old for the first time. Meanwhile, more details are coming to light.
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has spoken publicly for the first time about the arrest of his stepson, Marius Borg Høiby. The 27-year-old was taken into custody on Sunday on suspicion of assaulting a woman. Speaking on the sidelines of the Olympic Games in Paris, where he visited Norwegian athletes at the Olympic Village on Wednesday, the heir apparent told Norwegian broadcaster "TV 2" that it was a "serious matter."
Originally, it was planned that Haakon would travel to the French capital together with Crown Princess Mette-Marit. However, she stayed home after the incident involving her son. "In our family, as in all families, it's sometimes important to be there," Haakon said. "This time, I was the one who traveled, while she stayed home." The Norwegian palace had announced at short notice that Mette-Marit would "postpone" her trip to Paris for the time being.
When asked about his stepson Marius, Haakon told "TV 2": "It's a serious matter when the police are involved, as they are. At the same time, I don't think it's right for me to interfere in the case now." The crown prince added that "a case like this also affects me."
New details emerge
Marius Borg Høiby was reportedly taken into custody by police in Oslo last Sunday following an incident with a woman in an apartment. The police confirmed to "Se og Hør" that an arrest and charge of assault had taken place. The detainee was later released from custody. "Se og Hør" also reported that the woman, believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, was taken to hospital with a concussion.
The newspaper now reports that Borg Høiby was also arrested on suspicion of property damage. The apartment was reportedly destroyed, and police found a knife stuck in the wall, which they believe Borg Høiby is responsible for.
The lawyer for the 27-year-old, who is the son of a relationship prior to Mette-Marit's marriage to Haakon, confirmed the assault charge to Norwegian "Dagbladet" and stressed the importance of the process running its course and the media respecting his client's privacy. "It's up to the courts to decide if the case ends up there."
It is not yet known whether the woman Marius Borg Høiby is alleged to have assaulted is his girlfriend, Rebecca Helberg Arntsen. Norwegian media report that the Oslo police have confirmed in a press release that there is or was a relationship between the accused and the alleged victim.
The entertainment at the Olympic Games was enjoyed by Crown Prince Haakon despite the ongoing situation with his stepson. Despite the serious allegations against Marius Borg Høiby, the crown prince stressed the importance of letting the legal process take its course.
