Three men accused of gang rape over a weekend at an Airbnb apartment met their first alleged victims, two 18-year-old friends, at a nearby pub.
Groom Andrew David and brothers Maurice and Marius Hawell were among a group of nine men who rented a three-bedroom property in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley two years ago.
David and the Hawell brothers arrived at the first floor apartment on Parry Street in Newcastle West at around 6pm on Friday 25 February 2022, with the others arriving later.
The Airbnb was 280 meters from the Cambridge Hotel, where two 18-year-old friends met around 8:50 p.m. after getting ready for a night out at one of their houses.
David, then 28, Maurice Hawell, 27, his brother Marius, 20, and two other members of their group walked to the Hunter Street pub, which they were filmed entering at around 9.20pm.
What allegedly happened during the rest of that night and the next night was described Wednesday in Downing Center District Court, where David and the Hawells are on trial.
The three are accused of raping two 18-year-old boys and a 19-year-old woman on Saturday night. Some of the alleged sexual acts are too graphic to report.
Three men accused of gang rape over a weekend at an Airbnb apartment met their first alleged victims, two 18-year-old friends, at a nearby pub. Maurice Hawell (pictured) pleaded not guilty to 11 charges involving three women
Crown prosecutor Craig Evans told the jury that the two women, Miss A and Miss B, had interactions with the Hawells and their friend Matt Anoih, whom Miss A kissed in the pub.
Evans said Anoih, who is not accused of any crime at any point, later invited Miss A back to the Parry Street flat.
“I won’t go alone, only if my friend (Miss B) can come,” she allegedly said.
Maurice Hawell allegedly later said to Miss B: “Would you and your twin sister like to come back to our apartment?”
The two teenagers, Maurice Hawell and Mr Anoih, allegedly left the pub at 11.09pm, followed by Marius Hawell at 11.15pm and David at 11.28pm.
Mr Evans said that once inside the flat, Maurice Hawell and Miss B entered one bedroom, while Mr Anoih and Miss A entered another.
Mr Anoih and Miss A had consensual sexual intercourse and were chatting in bed when the door opened and Maurice Hawell allegedly entered without clothes.
‘Can I join you and Matt?’ Maurice Hawell supposedly asked.
The court heard when Miss A refused Hawell’s request he said: “I’m a better root than Matt” but she repeatedly said: “No, go away.”
Groom Andrew David (pictured) and brothers Maurice and Marius Hawell were among a group of nine men who rented a three-bedroom property in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley two years ago. David has pleaded not guilty to raping three women he met that weekend
Mr Evans said Maurice Hawell and Miss B had already had consensual sexual relations, during which he had said: “Can one of my friends join in?”
After Miss B initially said no, she allegedly asked who Hawell wanted to join them and he replied: “Actually, it’s my twin brother.”
Evans said Miss B agreed and another man entered the room who the Crown said was not Hawell’s brother but David.
As Maurice Hawell and Miss B continued having sex, David allegedly said: “It’s really hot, can I take my pants off?” and she replied: ‘Do what you want.’
Evans said Miss B then performed a sexual act on David and the pair had consensual sex after Maurice Hawell allegedly bit her nipple.
Marius Hawell allegedly entered the room and said to Miss B: ‘Hey, how are you feeling?’ and she said, ‘Okay.’ He allegedly touched her sexually.
Miss A met Miss B in the kitchen of the apartment where they talked about leaving. They went to a bedroom to get their phones and allegedly found the light off.
Brothers Hawell and Andrew David met two 18-year-old women at Newcastle’s Cambridge Hotel as they returned to their rented flat. Maurice Hawell (pictured) insists the only sex he had was consensual
Evans said Miss A felt someone grab her, “hands everywhere” and “a swarm of people” on top of her.
When they allegedly pushed Miss A onto the bed and took off some of her clothes, she said: “Where’s Matt?” and “None of you are Matt.”
Evans said Misses A and B were subjected to several non-consensual sexual acts by numerous men, sometimes at the same time.
At one point, when Miss A allegedly asked, “Is that Matt?” one male voice said, “Yes, I’m Matt,” and another said, “No, I’m Matt.”
At another point, Mr Evans said Mr Anoih came into the room and Miss A told him: “I want your friends to stop.”
Mr Anoih allegedly spoke to the men in the room, who left and then asked if Miss A was okay. “I’m fine,” he allegedly replied. ‘Where is she (Miss B)?’
Miss B then allegedly said in the darkened room: “I’m here.”
Misses A and B were unable to identify who had committed each alleged act against them, but the Hawells and David are accused of participating in a joint criminal enterprise.
Sharyn Hall SC, for Andrew David, said any sexual acts carried out by her client were consensual and asked the jury to carefully consider the complainants’ evidence. David appears in the photo.
Evans said the women returned to Cambridge with Anoih and Miss A told a friend: “We fucked.” He was really good to Matt. But it was happening like an orgy. “There were so many guys there it was crazy.”
Miss A allegedly made no mention of non-consensual sexual relations that night and Miss B did not report her alleged assault to anyone until early 2023.
The following night, Maurice Hawell allegedly met a 19-year-old woman, Miss C, on Parry Street and told her: “All my friends are having drinks upstairs,” referring to the apartment.
Miss C agreed to go upstairs and once inside, Maurice Hawell allegedly took her to a bedroom.
‘What about pre-drinks?’ she supposedly asked. “We’ll get to that,” she allegedly responded.
Evans said Hawell then pushed Miss C onto the bed and removed some of her clothing. Miss C allegedly saw a naked man who the Crown said was David lying next to the bed.
Maurice Howell allegedly asked: ‘Threesome?’ and Miss C replied: ‘What? No’.
Maurice Hawell (pictured) is charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count each of aggravated sexual touching of another person and attempted aggravated sexual assault in company.
Evans then detailed a series of allegedly non-consensual sexual acts committed by Maurice Hawell and David with Miss C, including sexual intercourse.
The Crown alleges Marius Hawell entered the room and observed.
When Miss C left the apartment, she called her roommate and then triple zero.
Maurice Hawell and David were subsequently charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count each of aggravated sexual touching of another person and attempted aggravated sexual assault in company.
Marius Hawell was charged with six counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count each of aggravated sexual touching of another person and attempted aggravated sexual assault in company.
All have pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Richard Pontello SC, representing Maurice Hawell, told the jury his client denied some of the acts had taken place and said all the others were consensual.
“There was no sexual contact without anyone’s consent,” he said.
‘There was no sexual relations without anyone’s consent. There was never any attempt by anyone to do any of those things.
Scott Corish, for Marius Hawell, said his client was not involved in any sex or a joint criminal enterprise.
Sharyn Hall SC, for David, said any sexual acts carried out by her client were consensual and asked the jury to carefully consider the complainants’ evidence.
The trial before Judge Gina O’Rourke continues.
