Racing driver accused of 'raping Michael Schumacher nurse at his home' is named at trial
The person accused of raping one of Michael Schumacher's nurse while staying at the F1 legend's family home in Switzerland has been named, with a court trial having now been formally opened
Joey Mawson has been named as the alleged rapist accused of attacking one of Michael Schumacher's nurses during a stay at the Formula 1 legend's house. Australian racer Mawson, 29, is alleged to have raped the unconscious woman twice following a boozy cocktail party at Schumacher's mansion in Gland, Switzerland.
Mawson denies the charge and claimed their relationship was close and consensual. He also claims that they had previously shared a kiss at a Geneva nightclub.
Born in Sydney, Australia, Mawson was once touted to become a star of F1 before his form dipped and he decided to return to race in his homeland instead.
READ MORE: Nurse 'raped at Michael Schumacher's home' as allegations from carer of F1 icon emergeREAD MORE: Man who 'raped nurse at Michael Schumacher's mansion' goes off grid after fleeing countryHe was a close friend of Schumacher's son, Mick, and raced against future icons of the sport including McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes speedster George Russell.
A trial was scheduled for this week and the Public Prosecutor's Office of the District of La Cote had drawn up a one-and-a-half-page indictment for the case.
However, Mawson, who is a double champion of the Australian S5000 and now banned from racing due to a doping scandal, failed to appear in court on Wednesday.
Despite his absence, the trial was still formally opened, but then adjourned to "a date to be fixed", The Sun reports.
No member of the Schumacher family are implicated in the case.
The Public Prosecutor's Office's indictment accuses Mawson of raping one of Schumacher's nurses while she was unconscious after a night of vodka cocktails.
It's added that the unnamed nurse was a live-in carer for Schumacher, who is believed to require round-the-clock care after his tragic skiing accident back in 2013.
Court documents allege that Mawson was staying at Schumacher's home on the night – said to be November 23, 2019 – when the incident happened.
Mawson was playing pool in the billiard room with two other members of Schumacher's staff when the alleged victim joined them after a tiring shift.
After the nurse had been taken to bed, Mawson is alleged to have returned to her and raped her unconscious body. The nurse filed a criminal complaint a little over two years later, in January 2022.