Stepson of Norway's crown prince convicted of rape

The stepson of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon was found guilty on Monday of rape and domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison after a seven-week trial that has further dented the royal family's once picture-perfect image, Report informs via CNN.

An Oslo court ruled that Marius Borg Hoiby, who joined the royal family when his mother Mette-Marit married Haakon in 2001, was guilty of two counts of rape, including one in the basement of the crown prince's home.

He was acquitted of two other rape charges.

Hoiby, 29, had pleaded not guilty to the most severe accusations against him, including those of rape, while admitting to some lesser ones, and can appeal the verdict.

Prosecutors had sought seven years and seven months in prison.

The case has exposed Hoiby's drug addiction, self-made videos of sexual encounters, and more than 800 electronic messages entered into evidence.

"The court finds it is proven she was not able to resist the action," Oslo District Court Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad said of the rape at the crown prince's home, while reading the verdict.

Hoiby watched the verdict via video link from prison but could not be seen or heard in the courtroom.