I honestly think Øyvind Bratlien is not the correct lawyer for this case. It feels like he uses the tactic of "Attack is the best defence" and tries to de-direct the focus from his client's behaviour and crimes to the police and trying to turn Marius into a victim instead. Considering the crimes he's been accused of this whole tactic leaves a very bad taste in the mouth.
Øyvind Bratlien has been a defender of some of the heaviest criminals in Norway. such as former Bandidos leader Lars Harnes. He is also a defense attorney in the terrorist case of the mass shooting on 25 June, where two people were killed and nine others were shot. Bratlien defends a man accused of terrorism who denies criminal guilt in the case. The media in Norway sometimes calls him as "gangster lawyer".
Professor emerita at BI Business School Peggy Simcic Brønn says that Marius' actions have affected all other parties and it is his responsibility to clean up. The Palace doesn't seem to have any crisis strategy in this. The way they respond to the press and the overall strategy appears arrogant and poorly thought out. The answers in this case cannot be "canned", as in the conversation with Marius' lawyer. They should be in line with "We, the king and queen, trust the legal system and a fair trial. In the meantime, we send our thoughts to the victims in this case, and to a mother who is trying to understand her son and how he could do something like that". The king can ban Marius from all royal gatherings temporarily until a verdict is reached, and permanently if he is found guilty.
TV 2's royal expert Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen says that the day the case is over, it requires that Marius visibly steps out of the limelight. Marius is still part of the family, but his time in public must be limited to activities that concern the royal family. He believes that any statement from the Palace now can be perceived as a conscious or unconscious influence on the matter in one direction or the other.
Reputation expert and lecturer at Høyskolen Kristiania Dag Inge Fjeld believes that the Palace has no choice but to let the lawyer and the legal system finish their job. The big question is how Marius has been able to carry on with his cocaine parties without his mother, stepfather and half-siblings having understood anything? And if they have seen through this, it is very serious.
Nylig ble siktelsen mot kronprinsessens sønn Marius Borg Høiby (27) utvidet på flere punkter, men Slottet henviser stadig alle spørsmål til Høibys advokat.
www.tv2.no
On Saturday 7 September, five days after he received the restraining order, the police believe that Marius once again contacted the woman from a hidden phone number. Marius claims that he didn't violate the restraining order.
According to VG's information, the police have obtained telephone data which they believe links the call to Marius. VG submitted the details of this case to lawyer Øyvind Bratlien. He said that as for the violation of the restraining order, Marius has said that he has nothing to do with it and that he doesn't plead guilty. Bratlien can't comment on the other matters until Marius has finished being questioned and has made a decision as to whether he is guilty of a crime.
Marius Borg Høiby har nektet for at han ringte ekskjæresten. Men politiet mener teledata avslører ham.
www.vg.no
