Three men who gang raped three teenage women during a bucks party weekend have told a court they intend to appeal their sentences.
Maurice Hawell, 30, his brother Marius, 23, and friend Andrew David, 30, were convicted of forming a joint criminal enterprise in attacking the women at a Newcastle Airbnb over two nights in February, 2022.
All three men, who have consistently maintained their innocence, have recently filed notices of their intention to appeal their sentences with the New South Wales Supreme Court.
On Thursday, acting registrar of the Supreme Court Peter Clayton set the matter down to be heard later this month.
Mr Clayton said the ‘large’ matter would be dealt with over ‘multiple days’, according to news.com.au.
The Sydney-based trio were celebrating the marriage of groom-to-be Maurice when they took part in the assaults described as ‘degrading and heinous’ by District Court Judge Gina O’Rourke.
They were found guilty on multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault in company, aggravated sexual touching in company and attempting to commit sexual assault in company by a jury in July last year.
Two 18-year-old women were sexually assaulted by multiple men on the first evening after they met Maurice at the Cambridge Hotel.
Maurice Hawell (right) married his cousin Loubna Yousif (left) only weeks after the attacks for which he was sentenced to 14 years behind bars
Marius Hawell (left) was sentenced to nine years in jail with a non-parole period of five years and five months
Groomsman Andrew David (pictured) was handed a 13-year jail sentence for his role in the sexual assaults
On the second evening, a 19-year-old woman was led into the bedroom of the Airbnb by two men who proceeded to rape her while a third man entered to watch.
Both Marius and David attended the wedding of Maurice and his cousin, Loubna Yousif, which took place weeks after the attacks.
Maurice, a former solicitor, was convicted of 10 charges and sentenced to 14 years in jail with an eight year and six month non-parole period.
His younger brother, Maurius, was convicted of seven offences and sentenced to nine years in jail with a non-parole period of five years and five months.
David was convicted of nine charges and sentenced to 13 years in jail with a seven year and nine month non-parole period.
In delivering their sentences in July, Mr O’Rourke described the offending as ‘cold, callous, degrading and criminal’ and said the men had acted pursuant to a ‘pack mentality’.
‘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,’ Judge O’Rourke told the court.
‘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.’
