Three men sentenced to prison for gang rape in Airbnb during Newcastle Bucks party

Three Sydney men have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms for the “degrading and disgusting” gang rape of three young women during a dollar weekend in Newcastle in 2022.

Maurice Hawell, 30, Andrew David, 30, and Marius Hawell, 22, were found guilty by a jury in July of aggravated sexual assault in company, aggravated sexual touching in company and attempted sexual assault in company.

Judge Gina O’Rourke described the offenses as “serious, degrading and disgusting” as she handed down the defendants’ sentences today.

“They are three highly educated, intelligent, successful, professional young men who came from loving Christian families and treated their respective sisters, mothers and female partners with respect and affection,” Judge O’Rourke told the court.

“And yet this weekend, with their herd mentality, they managed to treat three young women in such a cold, callous, degrading and criminal way.”

‘Everyone is responsible and liable’

The offenses took place at an Airbnb flat in Newcastle on February 25 and 26, during a weekend at which Maurice Hawell was joined by six other people.

The court heard that the men attacked two 18-year-old friends in their apartment, whom they met at the Cambridge Hotel on Friday, the 25th.

In evidence presented to the jury, the court heard two women had been drinking and one had consumed MDMA, and both had initially agreed to have consensual sex; one was with Maurice Hawell, saying his name was “Joseph”, and the other was on stage with another man. dollar weekend.

The court heard that after the consensual encounter, the two women returned to the bedroom to retrieve some belongings and planned to rejoin friends at the Cambridge Hotel when they were surrounded by a “swarm of men”.

Judge O’Rourke said the victims were unable to identify the man who attacked them and could only see “shadows and movements”.

Judge O’Rourke found the three men engaged in a joint criminal enterprise to carry out the sexual assaults, knowing that the victims “did not consent to that fact or were reckless.”

Judge O’Rourke said: “No particular act could be attributed to a particular offender due to the darkness of the room and the subsequent inability of both victims to identify which male had committed the act.” he said.

“But each is responsible and accountable for the actions of the other.”

Criminals ‘callously objectified the victim’

The court heard that Maurice Hawell approached a third woman, 19, on Saturday the 26th and told her his name was “Jonathon”.

The woman entered the flat with Hawell, despite initially saying no and texting a friend to “help me now.”

The court heard the 19-year-old was “scared and worried” after being pinned down and sexually assaulted by three men.

Reading the facts to the court, Judge O’Rourke said the offenders had “callously objectified the victim”.

“All three men treated the victim as if she were an object to be sexually abused at their own will and pleasure, rather than a young woman deserving of respect and kindness, with no dignity shown to her.”

In sentencing, Judge O’Rourke noted that none of the three men had any previous convictions and were well regarded by their families.

“The court is truly baffled as to why young men of previously good character, highly educated, qualified and family background could commit such serious crimes against three young women,” he said.

“Their actions and intentions that weekend were in stark contrast to the way their mothers, wives, girlfriends and sisters described them.”

Maurice Hawell was sentenced to 14 years in prison with a non-parole period of eight years and six months.

Andrew David was sentenced to 13 years in prison with a non-parole period of seven years and nine months.

Marius Hawell was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of five years and five months.