OSLO, Norway (AP) — The eldest son of Norway's crown princess will go on trial Tuesday on multiple charges including rape in a high-profile case that has been an embarrassment to the royal family.
Marius Borg Høiby is facing the Oslo district court after being indicted in August following a lengthy investigation. The indictment includes 38 counts, among them rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, acts of violence against another and transporting 3.5 kilos (7.7 pounds) of marijuana. Other charges include making death threats and traffic violations.
Prosecutors have said the 29-year-old could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted at the trial, which is expected to last until mid-March.
Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon.
He has no royal title or official duties. He has been under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 on various allegations of wrongdoing. He has remained free pending trial.
The indictment centers on four alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024; alleged violence and threats against a former partner between the summer of 2022 and the fall of 2023; and two alleged acts of violence against a subsequent partner, along with violations of a restraining order.
Defense attorney Petar Sekulic said when Høiby was indicted that “our client denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence.” He added that Høiby “will present a detailed account of his version of events before the court.”
In a rare statement, Haakon said Wednesday that he and Mette-Marit don't plan to be in the courtroom for the trial and that the royal house does not intend to comment during the proceedings.
He emphasized that Høiby is not party of the royal house and that, as a citizen of Norway, he has the same responsibilities and rights as all others. He said he is confident that all concerned will make the trial as orderly, proper and fair as possible.
The royals are generally popular in Norway but the Høiby case has cast a shadow on their image.
Tove Taalesen, a royal expert at the Nettavisen newspaper, said that it has been “a shocking one and half years for the Norwegian people because we really love our royal family.” She added that “we respect them and we look at King Harald as like our grandfather.”
Taalesen said there may be consequences in the future, “but for now, polls show that we still believe in King Harold and Queen Sonja and we feel we are compassionate also for what the royal family are going through.”
“We definitely have different opinions about the different members of the royal family,” she said. “But in general, I think we still have like sympathy for the crown prince and the crown princess.”
Still, the Høiby story hasn't been the only source of negative publicity for the royals. The business ventures of Haakon's sister, Princess Märtha Louise, have drawn repeated criticism. In 2024, around the same time Høiby's case was making news, she married an American self-professed shaman, Durek Verrett.
FILE - Norway's Marius Borg Hoiby and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in Oslo, June 16, 2022. (Lise Aserud/NTB via AP, File)
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic will finally see a familiar face at the NBA All-Star Game.
Jamal Murray earned his first career All-Star berth in his ninth season Sunday. He and Jokic, who was named a starter last week, are the first pair of Denver Nuggets teammates selected to an All-Star Game since 2010 when Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups both made it.
“It feels really good,” Jokic said. “He's been playing at a really high level the last two years. ... It's good for him to be there because he's supposed to be there.”
Murray said he was taking his pregame nap when friends video-called him with the news that he’d been selected to play in the All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, next weekend.
He has long said that if he were to make an All-Star Game, he'd take it competitively and seriously, suggesting he'd rather vacation than play in the game if it's just a no-defense display of teams burning up the nets.
“I'm down to play 1-on-1, I don't care, I'm just a competitor," Murray said. "So I want to be known as one of those guys who's going to play hard every time he steps on the court.”
Asked what's the first shot he wants to take next Sunday, Murray deadpanned: “Half-court, full-court.”
How does that jibe with his let's-be-serious approach?
“I'm going to make it, though,” he said with a laugh.
It's been a long time coming for Murray to get his All-Star invite, Denver coach David Adelman said.
“When I saw that, so many things went through my mind, just multiple 50-point games, multiple 50-point games in the playoffs," Adelman said ahead of Denver's showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which they lost 121-111.
“Let's see, triple-double in the Finals, NBA champion, most wins in the West over the last 10 years, he's the point guard of that team, 55-point (game) last year, (career-high) 17 assists (in a game) this year, NBA All-Star,” Adelman added. “So, in my mind, all of those things make sense, except for the one that was missing. So, maybe All-NBA, maybe he'll be considered.”
Murray, 28, is averaging career highs in points (25.8), shooting percentage (49.2), 3-point percentage (44.7), rebounds (4.3) and assists (7.4) this season while leading the Nuggets through an injury epidemic that has sidelined Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas, among others.
Murray helped the Nuggets navigate the loss of Jokic for 16 games during which they went a surprising 10-6 to keep pace in the Western Conference.
Murray has already topped 30 points 13 times this season, besting his previous career mark of 11, and he's one of a dozen players in the league to score 50 or more points in a game this season. He also has 11 games with double-digit assists, marking a career single-season high.
“Well, well, well deserving. He’s playing (crazy) this year,” Thunder star and fellow Canadian All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said after Oklahoma City’s 121-111 victory over Denver on Sunday night.
This will also be the first time two Canadian players will play in the NBA All-Star Game.
“For Canada basketball, it’s just cool," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Like growing up, it was never in a million years.”
Last month, Murray won Western Conference Player of the Week (Dec. 8) honors for the first time in his career, and he and Jokic are two of the five NBA players averaging 25 points, seven assists and four rebounds per game.
Murray showed up to training camp in better physical shape this year, and Adelman said he also arrived with a sharper mind.
“Your body is at its best when it's not just the physical part, it's your mind,” Adelman said. "And he's played the game so clean. ... I think it's his body, but I also think it's his mind. He's just not fighting anything, he's just playing. And the guy's so talented, when he takes what's given to him, so much success can happen.
“Everything about him this year has been really fun to watch and watching him grow up and to have this moment for him, long time coming and he'll represent our team well in Los Angeles.”
A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Murray was the seventh overall selection in the 2016 NBA draft out of Kentucky.
“I wouldn't trade him for anybody,” Jokic said. “Whenever I say who's the top-5 of my career, he's definitely No. 1. So, we have a great relationship on the floor. There's so, so many good moments — bad moment, too — but that's what creates good moments. So, it's a pleasure to have him over there.”
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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, drives to the basket between Los Angeles Clippers centers Ivica Zubac, left, and John Collins (20) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray reacts after dunking the ball for a basket and drawing a foul in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, drives past Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
