Braydon Hamilton charged with manslaughter two years after woman dies of overdose

A man has been charged with manslaughter two years after a woman he was with died from after snorting heroin with a group of friends.

A man has been charged with manslaughter two years after a young mum died from after taking heroin, with police alleging he failed to assist her before her death.

Rachel Ayuso died on July 13, 2022, after snorting lines of the drug with a group of friends following a night out at a local pub.

It’s alleged that after taking the substance, she went back to a home in Oak Flats on the state’s south coast, with 28-year-old Braydon Hamilton.

A man has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Illawarra mum Rachel Ayuso.

Sometime between 2am and 11am that morning, Ms Ayuso, a mother of two, died as Hamilton slept in the home.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after midday, following reports the woman was unresponsive.

Following more than two years of investigations, officers from Lake Illawarra Police District charged Hamilton with manslaughter, alleging he “omitted to assist her”, which carried a high risk that “death or grievous bodily harm” could follow.

He is not accused of selling or supplying drugs to Ms Ayuso.

During a bail application in court on Thursday, his defence lawyer Matt Ward argued his client thought Ms Ayuso was asleep – describing the incident as a “tragedy”.

A man has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Illawarra mum Rachel Ayuso.

Despite the serious allegations, Magistrate Claire Girotto agreed to grant Hamilton bail, ordering he forfeit his passport, report to police everyday and forfeit $10,000 as a surety.

Hamilton will return to court early next year.

Following Ms Ayuso’s death, friends described her as a “beautiful soul” and an “adoring mum” who “gained her angel wings too early”.