
Audio By Carbonatix
Prosecutors in the trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, have requested a seven-year-and-seven-month jail term, arguing he should be found guilty of 39 of the 40 charges he is accused of.
The 29-year-old denies the most serious charges, which include four counts of rape as well as serious assault.
The trial, which began in early February, is due to come to an end this week and the three judges will then retire to consider their verdicts.
Hoiby was in court on Wednesday as the prosecution wrapped up its case. He was born before his mother married Norway's crown prince in 2001, and grew up within the royal family without being a member of it.
He maintains that he had consensual sex with all four women before the alleged rapes took place. His defence lawyers were due to begin summing up their case later.
The defendant has pleaded guilty to some of the lesser offences, which include a drugs charge, traffic offences and breaching a restraining order.
He has partially admitted a charge of seriously assaulting a woman in her flat but has denied charges of criminal abuse related to his ex-girlfriend Nora Haukland, with whom he maintained a close relationship.
The trial at Oslo district court has lasted almost seven weeks and every day of evidence has been front-page news in Norway.
Giving evidence last week, the crown princess's son complained of the immense pressure of media coverage of the trial and how he had become an object of hatred. "I'm not Marius any more, I'm a monster," he said.
When the case began at the start of February, the crown princess was herself in the public spotlight over revelations surrounding contacts with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Starting his summing-up on Monday, state prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø said Høiby was "not a monster" and should be judged for what he had done, not for who he was.
Going through the charges on Wednesday, Henriksbø and police attorney Andreas Kruszewski recommended the punishments they believed Høiby should face.
Three of the rape charges should command a two-year term in jail, and a fourth should receive a three-year term, Henriksbø told the court.
In all four rape cases the women were either asleep or otherwise incapacitated, and in his defence Høiby told the court early in the trial, "I don't sleep with women who aren't awake".
In three of the cases police found videos taken of the women at the time. He is accused of filming them without consent, and the condition of the women at the time of the four alleged rapes has become a significant element of the trial.
The state prosecutor said on Wednesday that the fact that sexual intercourse had taken place beforehand was not relevant to the case. He also told the court that the charges of rape and abuse in close relationships were very serious offences that required a response.
"Rape can leave lasting scars and destroy lives," he said.
While the defendant's lawyers have denied the most serious charges of rape and assault, commentators believe that he is likely to receive a reduced sentence for offences he has admitted to in court.
One of them is transporting 3.5kg of marijuana, with others involving reckless driving and driving without a valid licence. The drug charge itself could command a sentence of 11 months in jail.
Latest Stories
-
Attempted arrest of Manhyia South MP a retrogression in Ghana’s democracy – Martin Kpebu
2 minutes -
Peace in an age of fragmentation: Why global cooperation matters more than ever
6 minutes -
Nkrumah’s vision for African dignity remains relevant – P.L.O. Lumumba
23 minutes -
Court jails mason 4 years for GH¢44,800 fraud
25 minutes -
Ghana, Norway seek closer trade and security ties after UNGA talks
32 minutes -
AG responds to $235m Teshie desalination award, says tribunal rejected $402m claim
35 minutes -
Chiefs can help stop galamsey where government enforcement struggles – KNUST Professor
37 minutes -
Mahama’s rekindling Ghana’s Pan-African role echoing Nkrumah’s vision – P.L.O. Lumumba
37 minutes -
Gov’t already in advanced talks to buy Teshie desalination plant to avert $235m payout
40 minutes -
Tema-Kpone road had no valid contract or approved scope of work – Roads Minister
50 minutes -
You pay for electricity, water but not roads – Roads Minister chides Tema companies
52 minutes -
Political independence earned under Nkrumah is being eroded – P.L.O Lumumba
55 minutes -
Oro Oil CEO urges decentralised use of $500m World Bank oil palm fund
55 minutes -
Busuama MA Basic School in crisis: 120 KG pupils stranded as teacher deficit bites
1 hour -
Churches are not exempt from paying music royalties – GHAMRO CEO
1 hour