Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit will not be released from custody to visit his ailing mother in hospital, local media reported on Wednesday, citing an appeals court ruling.
The court concluded that “there remains a high probability that Høiby would commit further offences if released," Norway's state broadcaster reported.
It comes after a court in Oslo granted the release of Høiby, who is on trial for rape, on Monday, but prosecutors immediately lodged an appeal against the decision, which suspended the earlier ruling.
The police had previously opposed his release.
Høiby, 29, faces a slew of charges including four counts of rape, with a verdict in the mammoth trial to be announced on Monday. The prosecution is seeking a sentence of seven years and seven months in prison, while the defence has called for an acquittal on the rape charges.
His mother Mette-Marit suffers from a serious lung disorder and is in hospital.
According to the Norwegian Royal Court, her condition has recently deteriorated drastically.
Due to what has been termed a “life-threatening chronic lung disease,” Mette-Marit has now been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant, it was announced on Friday. Back in December, the royal family had already announced that the crown princess needed a new lung.
The 52-year-old suffers from the incurable condition pulmonary fibrosis. She now uses an oxygen machine in her daily life.
"Sitting in there while Mum is so ill is unbearable," Høiby had said at the court hearing in Oslo, according to the Verdens Gang newspaper.
He said it was very hard not to be able to support his mother in her situation. In court, the Norwegian insisted that he would now "never do anything to make the situation worse."
