Crown and Controversy Norway - The Trial of Marius Borg Høiby

As the trial of Marius Borg Høiby continues to dominate headlines in Norway, attention is increasingly turning to the wider implications for the royal family — particularly Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

A regional scouting organization has now called for her suspension as patron, arguing that institutions connected to the monarchy must reconsider their ties while the case involving her son unfolds. At the same time, renewed scrutiny has fallen on the timing of a December press conference announcing that Mette-Marit’s lung disease had progressed to the point that doctors were discussing a potential transplant — a date that coincided with the release of Jeffrey Epstein related documents mentioning her earlier contact with him. Her physician insists the timing was purely a matter of scheduling.

The issue has been further complicated by testimony from Høiby himself, who told the court that his mother warned him police had contacted the family shortly before his arrest.

Meanwhile, new polling suggests support for the Norwegian monarchy has fallen sharply, dropping from seventy percent to sixty percent in a month. King Harald remains extremely popular, but Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s approval rating has dropped to 3.7 out of 10.

Plus: a political debate over whether public opinion can affect the line of succession, and an Oslo bookstore display linking royal coverage to the Epstein scandal that has drawn fresh attention to the controversy.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record.

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Trial week 5: Frogner woman testifies for first time. New Feb 1 indictment (reckless conduct, restraining order breach during trial). Witness possibly tried to influence her, police investigation opened. Sophie Elise: "pose photo" not intentional. Oslo Scene witness: "no doubt he went for a chokehold." Messages: "You have to choose. Me or Farmen." NRK faces 400,000 kroner fine.

Frogner woman: "didn't start with violence," "jet-set guy who partied every weekend, used drugs, had criminal friends." Berlin: glass thrown into wall. Laptop broken in two. Skaugum: raised fist, punched glass door. Boat trip: spit in face, slapped. August 4: grabbed neck, chokeholds, slaps, knife thrown into wall, dragged by hair. Audio: "You are hated in this city now." "Seemed like he wanted to beat a confession out of me." "Pressure Marius experienced has been inhumane."

Høiby testifies: "don't recognize it, exaggerated." Admits spitting, laptop, one intimate image. Her calm "scariest thing." Polygraph test (8,000 kroner). August 4: "pretty massive, takes a lot out of me." "I admit the violence now." KEY ADMISSION: "I remember that I slapped her. I remember that I took her by the throat. I do not know if she could breathe. But I believe her when she says she could not." Mette-Marit called warning, told him shower, drove him to police. 172+ calls violating restraining order. Valentine's letter during trial. "Lies, infidelity, drugs and insecurity."

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record.

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The fifth week of the trial of Marius Borg Høiby ended with dramatic testimony about the violent confrontation on August 4, 2024 — the incident that triggered the police investigation and the sweeping indictment now before the Oslo court.

Taking the stand, Høiby disputed parts of the Frogner woman’s account but admitted key elements of the fight. “I remember that I slapped her,” he told the court. “And I remember that I took her by the throat.” He acknowledged shouting insults, smashing items in the apartment and sending a threatening message to a man he believed she had been with.

The court also heard that Høiby made at least 172 calls to the woman despite a restraining order and even sent a Valentine’s Day letter through a friend while the trial was already underway. He blamed alcohol and cocaine for some of the night’s events, telling the court that recordings from the confrontation made him sound “completely rabid.”

By the end of the week the court had worked through much of the timeline involving the Frogner woman — testimony prosecutors say illustrates a pattern of escalating conflict, violence and harassment.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record.

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A pivotal day in Oslo District Court as Marius Borg Høiby took the stand to respond directly to the testimony of the woman known as the “Frogner woman,” who is connected to many of the charges against him. Høiby told the court he did not recognize much of her account, saying, “I felt that a lot was exaggerated, and some of it simply wasn’t true.”

During hours of testimony he acknowledged several incidents, including spitting in her face during an argument, breaking her laptop — “I took the laptop and snapped it in two” — and taking an intimate image without consent, telling the court, “I did it. It should never have happened.” He also said an alleged slap “sounds like it happened,” calling it “incredibly stupid.”

The most emotional moment came when the court reached the August 4, 2024 confrontation in the Frogner apartment that triggered the police investigation. Høiby told the court, “I admit the violence now,” though he disputes prosecutors’ classification of the offence as particularly serious.
Meanwhile, police have opened a separate investigation after testimony suggesting a friend may have tried to influence what the Frogner woman told investigators.
Høiby’s testimony will continue as the court prepares to examine the events of that night in greater detail.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record. Nothing in this program should be considered a factual finding or legal determination.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record.

Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed!

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One of the most consequential phases of the Marius Borg Høiby trial is now underway as the woman known in Norwegian media as the “Frogner woman” begins two days of testimony. She is connected to twenty of the forty criminal counts in the case.

In emotional evidence, she told the court the relationship did not begin with violence but gradually escalated from jealousy, drugs and insecurity. She described arguments in Berlin and Norway where objects were smashed, alleged incidents of filming without consent, and a volatile relationship she called “like a roller coaster.”

The court also heard her account of the night of August 4, 2024, when she says Høiby grabbed her by the neck, slapped her and destroyed property in her apartment. She testified that at one point he took a knife and threatened to kill a man he believed she had cheated with.

Prosecutors say her allegations underpin many of the charges in the case, including assault, property damage, sexually offensive filming and restraining order violations. Høiby admits some lesser offences but denies the most serious accusations.

The testimony continues Thursday, after which Høiby himself is expected to give his account of events.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record. Nothing in this program should be considered a factual finding or legal determination.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record.

Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed!

Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories’ with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show!

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