Swiss court clears Mawson
Australian racing driver Joey Mawson has been acquitted of sexual assault charges by a Swiss court after judges found there was insufficient evidence to convict him.
The 30-year-old had been accused of sexually assaulting a nurse who worked as part of Michael Schumacher’s private care team. Mawson denied the allegations throughout the case and maintained that any encounter had been consensual, according to a Mirror report.
The verdict brings an end to a case that had drawn attention because of its alleged connection to Schumacher’s Swiss residence and Mawson’s past friendship with Mick Schumacher.
Allegation centred on private gathering
The allegation stemmed from a gathering at Schumacher’s home in Switzerland in 2019.
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The court heard that Mawson had been playing pool with two members of staff from the Schumacher household when the nurse, who had just finished her shift, joined them. She was said to have had several drinks before feeling unwell and falling asleep on the floor.
Colleagues later moved her to a nearby bedroom and placed her in bed without undressing her. Mawson was accused of entering the room and assaulting her twice while she was unconscious.
During the trial, Mawson told the judge that he had stayed in the nurse’s room until the early hours of the morning. He said he had done so to prevent other staff members from discovering what he described as an intimate moment between them. He also acknowledged that he could not remember parts of the evening because he had been drinking.
Court finds evidence insufficient
The nurse told the court she had been working her sixth consecutive day and was tired, adding that she had not had time to eat before the gathering.
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She maintained that she was unconscious at the time of the alleged assaults and had not consented.
However, the Swiss court found that the evidence did not meet the threshold required for a conviction. Mawson was therefore cleared of the charges, as also described by Speedcafe.
Lawyer says driver can move forward
After the ruling, Mawson’s lawyer, Luc Vaney, welcomed the verdict and said the driver could now begin planning his future again with his name cleared.
The nurse was reported to have left the courtroom in tears. She said she felt devastated by the outcome and described the process as deeply painful, saying she had been attacked, lost her job and now felt the court had treated her as though she were lying.
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Case drew attention beyond motorsport
The Schumacher family was not accused of any wrongdoing and was not part of the case.
Michael Schumacher, a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has lived largely out of the public eye since suffering a serious brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013. His family has kept details of his health private, and the trial again placed attention on the closely guarded environment around his care.
For Mawson, the acquittal removes a major legal cloud from a career already affected by a separate three-year motorsport ban linked to a failed drugs test over a fitness supplement.
Sources: www.mirror.co.uk, speedcafe.com
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