Norway Court Rejects Marius Borg Høiby Release Despite Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Severe Illness

Norway's appeals court in Oslo has rejected Marius Borg Høiby's request for release from custody, despite his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, suffering from advanced pulmonary fibrosis. This ruling overturns a district court's decision earlier this week that would have freed the 29-year-old before his verdict on 40 criminal charges, including four counts of rape, which he denies.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, was placed on a lung transplant waiting list last week as doctors indicated a significant deterioration in her condition. Høiby's legal representatives contended that his presence was necessary given the gravity of his mother's illness. Høiby, who is not a member of the royal family but was raised within it, has been detained since February following new allegations of assault and breaching a restraining order.

The district court had deemed the risk of Høiby re-offending as