During the trial into the rape of a former nurse of Michael Schumacher, a rare insight into the strictly shielded life of the seriously injured Formula 1 legend was given.
Her lawyer painted a picture in court of grueling working conditions and a harsh ‘culture of silence’. To make matters worse, the woman was fired shortly after she was allegedly abused in the family’s luxury villa.
Culture of silence
Lawyer Patrick Michod used the hearing in Gland, Switzerland to emphasize how reliable and loyal his client was before she was thrown out in October 2020. To demonstrate this, he revealed the immense pressure the racing driver’s healthcare staff have to work under.
“It is an extremely demanding job, both physically and emotionally, and there is a culture of silence around the family,” said Michod. “That is completely understandable, but it means that the pressure on the employees is enormous. They are not allowed to say anything to their friends about what is happening at work.”
The counselor was certain about her dedication. “She was always assigned the most difficult tasks and stepped in when there was a gap in the schedules or when extra people were needed.” The dismissal was therefore unjustified, the lawyer believes. “A double blow: she was first raped and then unfairly dismissed.”
Incriminating apps
The trial itself revolves around an evening that got out of hand. The nurse was allegedly raped twice while unconscious by former driver Joey Mawson. He was given access to the villa at the time because he was friends with Mick Schumacher, the son of the house. After a game of billiards in which the drinks flowed freely, he sexually assaulted the woman.
Mawson initially denied everything, but incriminating text messages have surfaced in court. “I’m really sorry. I’m sorry that I hurt you so much,” he sent to the victim afterwards.
When the woman’s lawyer asked him in court why he apologized, the defendant remained silent. He stated that he barely remembered anything. “It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized how drunk I had been,” he said.
No one from the Schumacher family was at home at the time of the incident or was substantively involved in the abuse case. They will therefore not appear in court.case involved. They will therefore not appear in court.
