Australian race driver on trial in Switzerland accused of assaulting Michael Schumacher's nurse

Australian racing driver Joey Mawson went on trial in Nyon, Switzerland, on Tuesday, accused of raping a nurse employed by Michael Schumacher's family at their Lake Geneva property in November 2019. Mawson has denied all allegations.

The alleged incident took place in Schumacher's luxury villa on the shores of Lake Geneva in Gland following a cocktail party. The nurse was part of the medical team caring for the seven-time Formula 1 world champion following his 2013 skiing accident.

Joey Mawson on trial for assaulting Schumacher's nurse

According to AutoAction, the nurse told the court she had just completed her sixth consecutive shift and "Hadn’t had time to eat and was tired" when she joined the party and "consumed several drinks."

The nurse recalled feeling unwell shortly after and was unable to stand straight, after which Mawson and her colleagues assisted her to the bedroom to rest.

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She stated she was helped to bed fully dressed, but awoke the next morning naked, with bloodstains on the sheets and no memory of the night. Prosecutors allege Mawson returned to the room and assaulted her twice while she was unconscious.

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"[One of the medics] told me I was completely drunk and that they, along with Joey, had carried me upstairs.

“I asked him if I had gone to bed naked, because I had woken up naked. He said he had left the light on because he was worried.

“Because I had been unconscious, he had asked Joey to check on me. When I asked him if anything had happened, he said ‘no’,” the nurse said to the court.

Nurse presents evidence, Mawson denies allegations

Medical evidence presented to the Swiss court indicated blood was present on the bedding and the nurse had suffered injuries consistent with restraint. She also underwent a hospital examination.

Mawson allegedly sent texts to the nurse after the incident, which were read in court. In one message, he wrote, "I’m so sorry from the bottom of my heart. I’m so sorry for the pain I’m causing you."

“I hadn’t realised how drunk I actually was. It wasn’t until the next morning that I realised how drunk I had been. During the night, I had assumed she was less drunk than I realised the next morning,” the Aussie racing driver added in another text.

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Mawson claimed the encounter was consensual, stating that they had previously shared a kiss during a night out. The nurse has rejected the claim.

The nurse was dismissed from Schumacher's medical team in October 2020. Furthermore, no members of the legendary F1 driver's family were present at the villa on the night of the incident.