A court in Switzerland has heard testimony describing the "extremely challenging" nature of caring for Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, as a former racing driver faces rape charges involving the seven-time world champion's ex-nurse.
Joey Mawson, 30, is standing trial at La Cote District Court in Nyon, accused of sexually assaulting the woman twice following a social gathering at Schumacher's Swiss residence in 2019.
The nurse, who concluded her employment with the family in 2020, alleges the attacks occurred at the estate.
Mawson's defence lawyer, Maitre Veronica Abu Zeid, has stated her client firmly denies the accusations, maintaining any sexual contact was consensual.
Schumacher claimed seven world championship titles during his illustrious career, winning his first two with Benetton before securing five more with Ferrari.
The German retired from the sport in 2006, though he returned briefly to race for Mercedes between 2010 and 2012.
Tragedy struck in December 2013 when Schumacher fell while skiing in the French Alps, striking his head against a rock and sustaining catastrophic brain damage.
Since the accident, the 57-year-old has remained entirely shielded from public view, dividing his time between his Swiss home and a property on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
He is understood to require continuous medical supervision.
During the trial, the nurse's legal representative outlined the immense toll of providing care to the racing icon.
The court heard: "It's an extremely demanding job, both physically and emotionally."
The lawyer explained that staff face an additional burden from the strict confidentiality surrounding the household, noting employees are prohibited from discussing their daily work even with close friends.
"The pressure is enormous," the court was told.
"She was entrusted with the most difficult tasks."
The representative emphasised that caring for such a high-profile patient, amid constant media speculation about his condition, created "a colossal amount of pressure" which the nurse handled "flawlessly."
The precise state of Schumacher's health remains closely guarded, though reports emerged in January suggesting years of intensive physiotherapy had enabled him to sit upright rather than remain bedridden.
According to these accounts, he retains some awareness of his surroundings but continues to depend on a wheelchair and cannot walk independently.
In 2020, Elisabetta Gregoraci, formerly married to ex-Benetton boss Flavio Briatore, told Spanish media that Schumacher communicates non-verbally.
She said: "Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him, and I know who they are.
"They moved to Spain and his wife [Corinna] has set up a hospital in that house."
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