Trial in Nyon: Racing driver charged with rape at Schumacher's estate
A 30-year-old racing driver is facing trial in Switzerland. He is accused of raping a carer in 2019 on Michael Schumacher's estate.
Racing driver on trial in Nyon: accusation of rape on Schumacher's property
According to lessentiel.lu, the 30-year-old racing driver Joey M. is appearing before the court in Nyon in Switzerland – the charge is rape on two counts. The alleged incident is said to have taken place on 23 November 2019 on the estate of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher in Gland.
The alleged victim, a qualified carer in her thirties according to the indictment, was part of the medical team that cared for Schumacher on site. The seven-time world champion suffered serious injuries in a skiing accident in Méribel in 2013. The defendant was at the time friends with Mick Schumacher and raced in the same series – he had previously made an unsuccessful attempt to enter Formula 1.
On the evening of the alleged assault, the defendant and the carer met in the villa's billiards room, where two of the woman's colleagues played billiards with the man after their shift. Over the course of the evening, the carer consumed several vodka drinks. Eventually she felt so unwell that she could no longer stand upright.
According to the indictment, the defendant and a physiotherapist then took her to a room reserved for staff and put her into bed undressed. Shortly afterwards, the racing driver is said to have returned and abused the unconscious woman twice. During his questioning, the defendant stated that the sexual contact was consensual and that he had maintained a friendly relationship with the woman.
The next morning, the carer said she could recall nothing. However, some indications made her suspicious. According to the indictment, the racing driver wrote to her by text message: "I'm sorry" – a message that the public prosecution service regards as self-incriminating. The woman subsequently told him to stay away from her.
Fearing she would lose her job, she remained silent initially. It was not until January 2022 that she filed a complaint. She had previously lost her position with the Schumacher family – according to her own account, the alleged perpetrator was involved. According to the indictment, there is no direct connection to the Schumacher family; at the time of the alleged assault, no family member was on the estate. The defendant is presumed innocent.
Source: BILD