Hamilton Island golf buggy twist: Marina Hanna’s husband Robbie Awad charged
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Marina Hanna and Robbie Awad pictured together on their honeymoon on Hamilton Island
The husband of a young newlywed couple who died in an alleged accident involving a golf buddy during their honeymoon on Hamilton Island has been charged with her death.
Marina Hanna, 29, married Robbie Awad, 30, on June 11 in a large church ceremony in Sydney, before heading north to the Whitsundays in Queensland two days later.
The happy couple spent their luxurious trip enjoying poolside cocktails, food banquets, basking in waterside lounge chairs and a helicopter ride around the island.
A week later, Mrs. Hanna was dead.
Initial reports claimed that Mr Awad was driving the electric buggy with his new wife in the passenger seat when the vehicle began to run out of power on Whitsunday Boulevard.
The couple decided to make a U-turn to go back and load up the buggy, but it would have flipped over during the turn. Ms Morgan was reported to have fallen out of the vehicle and onto the road and died at the scene.
Last Friday, the police charged Mr Awad with careless driving, causing death, breaking seat belt and using a mobile phone. He will appear before the Prosperine Magistrates Court on December 5.
Ms Hanna and Mr Awad show off their rings for a photo as they headed to their wedding reception on June 11
Robbie Awad (front left, in white shirt and glasses) is pictured standing by the grave as Mrs Hanna’s coffin was lowered into the ground
Sources close to the family broke news of the development to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, just before Queensland Police issued a statement.
In July, Mr Awad said in an interview that his new wife “never looked so beautiful” when they boarded a helicopter for a special flight over the holiday island on June 19 – the day before the alleged accident.
At first he couldn’t determine why she seemed so radiant. After her death, he said, it all made sense.
She beamed before she left [this life]. “It was because God called her home,” he said.
‘She’s an angel.
“There are no two ways left.”
In a tragic video posted to Instagram before her death, Mr. Morgan was seen driving the buggy to the couple’s luxury oceanfront resort, while his wife filmed the scenery from the passenger seat.
Another clip showed the couple walking the tarmac as they excitedly boarded their Qantas plane to Queensland and entered the interior of their luxurious resort room once they arrived.
Marina Hanna, 29, tragically passed away on her honeymoon on Hamilton Island last month. The day before she died, she snapped this photo of her with husband Robbie on a helicopter ride
The beloved couple enjoyed poolside drinks and squid, tacos and corn chips with guacamole and salsa before the alleged tragedy
After the alleged tragedy, Ms. Awad founded a non-profit organization in his wife’s name ‘spread love, joy and kindness to the world’ – just as his wife did.
“The foundation will hold two major events each year, each year in the future,” he said.
“The first will be a charity ball, the second will be a fun family day, as Marina always held her family close to her heart.”
In late June, hundreds of mourners flocked to St Mary’s & St Merkorious Coptic Orthodox in Rhodes, Sydney’s northwest, for Mrs Hanna’s funeral.
The date marked exactly three weeks since family and friends had filled the same church to see her marry the love of her life.
Mr Awad is pictured holding up his bride on the dance floor on their wedding day, June 11. He said this photo is his favorite of his wife ‘by far’
Photos from the fateful trip posted online show Marina Hanna lounging by the resort pool
Her brother Mark Hanna told the crowd how he would miss his “good hearted sister” forever.
“No words can come close to the pain we feel in our hearts today,” he said, fighting back tears, “it seems like heaven is crying too.
‘Marina was a sweet, young, independent woman who was loved by all who knew her.
“She was beautiful inside and out, loved to laugh and always had a positive outlook on life.
After the alleged accident, bystanders, including an off-duty firefighter, a dentist and a doctor, spent 35 minutes trying to save her life, but the young woman went into cardiac arrest.
A helicopter was originally called from nearby Townsville to take her to the hospital, but was halted when experts realized the severity of her injuries.
Ms. Hanna was said goodbye at a church funeral in July, where she was remembered as a “caring, loyal, kind-hearted spirit” and “unconditional love” for all who knew her (pictured, her husband embracing mourners at the cemetery)