Bucks party gang rapist Maurice Hawell talks of fear in prison after rape convictions
A man convicted of raping three women on his buck’s party has moaned about his character being “stained” and being afraid in prison.
A Sydney lawyer had ambitions of a career in local council or politics before his character was “stained” by gang rape charges for which he was convicted and jailed for.
Maurice Hawell says he is now “frightened” as he serves a 14-year prison term after a jury found he raped three teenage women on his buck’s party trip to Newcastle in February 2022.
Brother Marius Hawell, 23, and close friend Andrew David, 30, were also jailed for their roles in the incidents at Parry St, Airbnb. All three maintain their innocence and plan to appeal.
A psychological report tendered on Maurice Hawell’s behalf for sentencing reveals the former Patrician Brothers’ Fairfield prefect was in disbelief after his life was turned “upside down”.
“We were just newlyweds, and there was a lot of anxiety and stress,” he said, speaking of when police came to charge him in May 2022 just weeks after his wedding.
“The police came with a search warrant and since then, I can’t sleep and I have nightmares of the police coming to me.”
In prison, Hawell said, he was aware of threats made by other inmates who were intent on assaulting him.
“There’s stigma associated with the offence,” he said.
“I fear for my safety … People in prison don’t care, they seem to enjoy this lifestyle. They know my name and it’s spread throughout the gaol system because prisoners talk to each other.”
Hawell said he felt “vulnerable” even in protection: “I’m frightened and I cannot sleep”.
“I constantly live in fear. I avoid people and confrontation, but it’s hard to avoid those things in a place like this,” he said.
Before his arrest he worked as a solicitor in land and environment law, was a member of the Young Liberals and was active in his local southwest Sydney community.
The psychological report states Hawell, 30, “had in mind to become a member of local Council, and possibly have a political career”.
He was forced out of work and the Young Liberals, the report states, as a result of the charges against him and the surrounding media attention.
Speaking of the media, Hawell said “they are not telling the facts or truth and it’s put a lot of pressure on my family and my wife”.
“I’m very thankful my family and my wife are supportive and so are my in-laws.”
At trial, three women – two aged 18 and one 19 – gave evidence of being sexually assaulted by multiple men after being invited back to the Airbnb the buck’s crew had rented.
Two of the women said they had consensual sex with Hawell and another man before later being assaulted by a “swarm of men” in a dark bedroom.
The third said she was invited to the rental by a man calling himself “Jonathon” – who the court heard was Hawell – before he and another man, identified in court as David, sexually assaulted her. Hawell told the court the woman consented to a threesome.
The Crown alleged at trial that Marius entered the room at some point during this incident. He denied this.
Judge Gina O’Rourke denounced the action of the Hawells and David as “degrading and heinous”, saying each of the trio was “responsible and liable”.
“They are three highly educated, intelligent, successful, professional young men who come from loving Christian families, who treat their own sisters, mothers and female partners with respect and love,” she said.
“And yet on this weekend, they were capable in a pack mentality of treating three young women in this cold, callous, degrading and criminal way.”
Although the incidents occurred in dark rooms and no acts be directly attributed to each man, Judge O’Rourke said “each is responsible and liable for the acts of the other”.
Hawell argued any sex he was involved in on the weekend away was consensual, and his psych report states he held an “acute appreciation of non-consensual sexual interaction” due to having younger sisters he is protective of.
“Mr Hawell continues to plead his innocence but expressed sympathy for the complainants, ‘I realise this has been difficult for them. It was a jury trial. Which went for six weeks’,” it states.
He said the trial came at a difficult time of his life soon after the birth of his child and while a family member was experiencing health issues.
“I felt conflicted. My energies and priorities are my family,” he said.
“I still feel anxious and stressed about my (family) who are suffering, and I can’t be there to help them.”
Wife, Loubna Hawell, penned a letter to the court saying she had forgiven Hawell for his “infidelity” and believed he was an innocent man.
“I never, not for a single moment, believed he could be capable of the monstrous acts described in (police documents),” she said.
“Maurice is the epitome of respect, humility, and generosity. He treats everyone with the highest dignity and respect.”
Read related topics:Sydney