Hamilton Island golf buggy tragedy: Husband of bride is a no show in court

Marina Hanna and Robbie Awad had been married for little more than a week when she was killed in a fatal golfbuggy crash while they were on honeymoon in the Whitsundays

The husband of a young newlywed who was killed in an alleged golf buggy accident during their Hamilton Island honeymoon has pleaded not guilty after being charged over her death, but was a no show in court drawing the ire of the magistrate presiding over the case.

Marina Hanna, 29, married Robbie Awad, aka Robbie Morgan, in a large church ceremony in Sydney on June 11, before heading north to Queensland‘s Whitsundays two days later.

The happy couple spent their luxury trip enjoying poolside cocktails, basking in sun chairs by the water, and a helicopter ride around the island.  

Mr Awad, 30, was driving the electric buggy with his new wife in the passenger seat, in June this year, when it rolled.

Hanna suffered critical injuries and died at the scene. 

After a police investigation, Mr Awad was charged with driving without due care and attention causing death, seatbelt offences and using a mobile phone.

The honeymoon followed a lavish wedding at Doltone House, near Sydney’s Hyde Park. Pictured is the couple on the wedding day.

Robbie Awad (front left, in a white shirt and glasses) is pictured standing at the gravesite as Ms Hanna’s coffin was lowered into the ground at her funeral in 

Mr Awad was not present in Proserpine court in the Whitsundays for the first mention of the matter, sparking an outburst from Magistrate James Morton, the ABC reports.

‘Where is your client? Why is he not appearing to put a not guilty plea on the record?’ he asked lawyer Sam Wildermuth.

Mr Wildermuth said there were ‘logistical issues’ for Mr Awad, who is based in Sydney.

The court then adjourned to allow Mr Awad to appear by phone. 

He formally entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of driving without due care and attention causing death. 

No pleas were entered for charges of failing to wear a seatbelt, ensuring his passenger was wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone, with those matters set to return to court in February.

Awad remains on bail. 

Marina Hanna, 29, tragically died on her honeymoon in Hamilton Island. The day before she died, she took this photo of her with her husband Robbie on a helicopter ride

Mr Awad is pictured holding his bride up on the dance floor on their wedding day, June 11. He said this photo is his favourite of his wife ‘by far’

Ms Hanna was remembered as a ‘caring, loyal, kind-hearted spirit’ at her funeral (pictured, her husband embracing mourners at the cemetery)