The wife of a gang rapist who attacked three teenagers at a bucks party has stated that she forgives her husband after dismissing his vile sex crimes as ‘infidelity’.
Maurice Hawell, 30, was last week sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of raping three women during his own bucks party in February 2022.
Hawell’s best friend Andrew David, 30, was jailed for 13 years and brother Marius Hawell, 23, for nine years for the sexual assaults which the judge labeled ‘degrading and heinous’.
But Maurice Hawell’s wife, Loubna, 29, had begged the judge for leniency in one of the letters of support sent to the court ahead of sentencing on Friday.
Ms Hawell begged for her rapist groom not be parted from their young child – and refused to even admit that he had raped his three victims, calling it simply ‘infidelity’.
‘The discovery of Maurice’s infidelity was deeply painful for me and went against the values that are central to our relationship,’ she wrote, news.com.au reported.
‘Despite the unfaithfulness, I chose to forgive Maurice for this mistake, recognising that it was a breach of our relationship but not a reflection of his entire character.’
Court documents revealed the couple married in April 2022. Hawell was charged in May that year, and faced trial in June 2024.
Maurice Hawell (left) gang raped three women. He’s pictured with wife Loubna
In her letter, Ms Hawell said the moment police arrived at their home with a search warrant detailing the allegations against her husband a few weeks after the wedding was ‘like being hit with a thunderbolt’.
She wrote that she remained in ‘utter shock’ at the claims made against her solicitor husband, saying she believes his story of innocence.
‘And although I was heartbroken to discover Maurice’s infidelity, I never, not for a single moment, believed he could be capable of the monstrous acts described in those papers,’ she said.
‘Maurice is the epitome of respect, humility, and generosity. He treats everyone with the highest dignity and respect.’
Hawell, from Bossley Park, pleaded not guilty to all charges at trial and argued any sexual activity he had during the bucks trip to Newcastle was consensual.
Documents tendered on his behalf ahead of sentencing being passed state he maintains his innocence and would be appealing the verdicts.
His wife pleaded for leniency from Judge Gina O’Rourke in her letter to the court, saying the ‘thought of living without Maurice is a heart-wrenching agony I can scarcely bear’.
‘We hope that Your Honour can take into account the severe consequences of Maurice’s long-term incarceration this will have on (our family),’ she wrote.
Maurice Hawell and Loubna on their wedding day in April 2022, two months after the gang rape
Hawell’s brother Marius Hawell (pictured) was jailed for his role in the sex attacks.
Three women gave evidence at trial of being invited back to an Airbnb the Hawell brothers, David and others were staying at before being sexually assaulted by multiple men in a dark bedroom.
The incidents took place over two nights the Sydney-based friends stayed in Newcastle, with a jury finding two women were raped on the first evening and another on the second.
Judge O’Rourke denounced the action of the Hawells and David as being in ‘stark contrast to how their mothers, wife, girlfriends and sisters have described them’.
‘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.’
Judge O’Rourke said one of the women, all of whom were teenagers at the time, was treated as ‘an object … not a young female person who deserved to be treated with dignity’.
The Hawells and David all maintain their innocence and intend to appeal.
Loubna and Maurice Hawell outside a Sydney court earlier this year.
Majdolin Hawell, the mother of Maurice and Marius, wrote in her letter to the court she felt compelled to ‘speak the truth’ about her sons – ‘extremely responsible young men, known for their good character and upstanding behaviours’.
‘While I respect the jury verdict, the process and court time, it is extremely difficult to reconcile the charges with the character of Maurice and Marius,’ she wrote.
‘They have always had the upmost respect for women, whether it is their past or current relationships, their friends, their colleagues or even to me and their sisters.’
Judge O’Brien imposed minimum sentences of eight-and-a-half years for Maurice and five years and five months for Marius, meaning they will be eligible for parole in January 2033 and December 2029 respectively.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk