‘Horrendous’: MP loses both legs in attack
The family of Helen Haines has confirmed she has had both legs amputated after an alleged attack.
Independent MP Helen Haines has lost both legs in hospital after allegedly being rammed by a four-wheel drive on Monday outside her electoral office in Wangaratta.
Dr Haines’s husband Phil Haines confirmed the member for Indi’s left leg was amputated on Monday, with medical staff unable to save her right leg.
“But the good news in all this is Helen is alive and she’s stable,” Mr Haines told reporters inside The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
The man accused of deliberately running down independent MP Helen Haines will remain behind bars for months while the alleged attack is investigated by counter-terrorism authorities.
Tarrawingee man Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious harm, intentionally causing serious harm, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official over the incident which left Haines fighting for her life.
It’s alleged he intentionally struck the 65-year-old MP with his Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, northern Victoria, on Monday afternoon.
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During Nugent’s brief court appearance on Wednesday, his lawyer Chirag Patel said the man suffered a rare neurological condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis, caused by a swollen spinal chord, as well as concussion.
He had not been diagnosed with mental health problems, but Patel said he had concerns about his client’s psychological wellbeing and wanted him to see a medical practitioner.
Nugent sat quietly in the dock in the packed courtroom, his mouth shut and dark circles around his eyes.
Cultivating and possessing marijuana were among the charges on his rap sheet, court documents show.
Nugent did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to face court again in February.
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Law enforcement have not ruled out further charges, including attempted murder, Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush said on Wednesday.
Potential connections to the so-called “sovereign citizen” movement, which espouses anti-government ideology, will be examined. Bush said there was no evidence to suggest connections.
Determining if there was a political motivation for the incident will be investigators’ priority, as a joint counter-terrorism task force comprising Victorian, federal police and spy agency ASIO continues to probe the alleged attack.
“His motivation for this, what we allege is a deliberate attack, is very much a centrepiece of the investigation,” AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.
“Our people will continue to explore every element, angle and avenue to work that out, but at this present point in time I cannot give that information.”
That probe will involve trawling Nugent’s social media, relationships and personal history, police have said.
The Victoria Police commissioner said authorities were also investigating any prior personal relationship between Dr Haines and Nugent, including social media associations, talking to witnesses, friends and colleagues.
Politicians, who received security briefings from ASIO, federal police and the home affairs department on Wednesday, have mulled over reconfiguring security arrangements for MPs in the wake of the incident.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said representatives needed to go about their business, be among their communities and not be afraid of running for public office, urging Australians to disagree with more civility.
The AFP commissioner described Australia’s criminal threat environment as “febrile”, revealing the agency is arresting an average of nearly one person a week over targeting federal parliamentarians or high office-holders.
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