Police prepared to release Høiby with ankle monitor, then sought continued detention, lawyer says

Marius Borg Høiby's defense lawyer expressed surprise and frustration after police shifted from preparing for his release with an electronic ankle monitor to requesting continued detention.

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Høiby asks explicitly if it is now decided and he is told yes, it is decided. It does not stop there. In addition, he is asked to cancel today's dentist appointment to have time and opportunity to install a new ankle monitor.

During a court hearing, Høiby's lawyer, Petar Sekulic, told the court that police had asked Høiby to measure his ankle, indicating a decision had been made for his release under electronic monitoring. Sekulic stated that Høiby was even told to cancel a dentist appointment to accommodate the fitting of the ankle device.

"After his contact with the police and after my contact with the police, we understood that he would be released today at 11 AM," Sekulic told reporters. He described Høiby as "a little taken aback" by the change in plans.

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After his contact with the police and after my contact with the police, we understood that he would be released today at 11 AM.

However, police prosecutor Hilde Strand argued that the request for an ankle measurement was merely a preparation for a potential release and not a final decision. She cited risks associated with electronic monitoring, such as the inability to conduct unannounced visits, which is possible during detention with electronic surveillance. Police are primarily concerned about the risk of Høiby violating a restraining order against contacting his ex-girlfriend.

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Then he would already have been released.

Strand acknowledged positive developments, such as Høiby not using substances, but maintained that four weeks is too short a period to conclude that the risk of reoffending has significantly decreased. The defense views the change of plans as a punishment.

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There are positive tendencies, but the prosecution's assessment is that four weeks is a very short period of time and it is too short and too early to conclude that the risk of repetition has already been reduced.