Police arrested 43-year-old Brendan Nugent on Monday and charged him with attacking federal MP Helen Haines, a long-time friend of his family. Nugent's home is on the edge of Tarrawingee, a town of about 400 people near Wangaratta. Residents say he was not part of the community and had caused disturbances from the property. Police are investigating a reported rift in the family, and the alleged attack on Ms Haines is being examined as possibly an attack on that family. Nugent's next court appearance is in February.
A man has been charged after allegedly targeting Victorian MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday. Police allege Brendan Nugent deliberately did a U-turn and drove into her as she was unloading items from her car. Ms Haines has had her legs amputated and remains in critical condition in hospital. Mr Nugent, a former plant researcher with a history of mental health struggles, faces charges including intentionally causing serious injury. Mental health experts say the issue must be considered in the case, and that violent incidents involving people with mental illness appear to be increasing.
A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, Brendan Nugent, has been charged after police allege he ran down federal MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta on Monday. Police have charged him with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a commonwealth public official. At his first court appearance, his lawyer said he suffers from a rare neurological condition and has mental health concerns. Haines has lost both legs but is expected to survive. A community vigil was held in Wodonga, where locals questioned how the incident could happen.
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Brendan Nugent, 43, has faced court in Wangaratta, where his lawyer said he suffers from a rare neurological condition and is not currently medicated. Nugent is charged over an alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines, in which witnesses allege his vehicle repeatedly struck her. He faces dangerous driving and serious injury charges, and police have added cannabis offences. No bail application was made, and the case returns to court on February 4.
Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged over an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Victoria Police say the attack is alleged to have been targeted. Nugent faces dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and a Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. He will appear at Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Haines is in a critical but stable condition at the Alfred Hospital after emergency surgery. Police say the matter appears to be an isolated incident.
Police allege a driver struck independent federal MP Helen Haines, and the ABC has named the driver as 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, who is in police custody. Online posts examined by ABC NEWS Verify show a white Toyota LandCruiser matching one seen at the scene. Neighbours say they have repeatedly called police over concerns for Mr Nugent's mental health. Sources say he has undergone a mental health assessment while in custody. Mr Nugent has posted for more than a decade about the environment and politics, and was previously a member of the group Save Our Strathbogie Forest.
Police have arrested a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man over an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta. Haines remained in a critical condition on Tuesday after being airlifted to Melbourne's Alfred hospital for emergency surgery. She has lost one leg, and surgeons are working to save the other. The man's father, Rod Nugent, said the family would assist Victoria Police and described the family's long friendship with Haines. Local residents and former environmental campaigners have described the man as a longtime forestry campaigner whose behaviour had concerned some people for years.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition after a car struck her near her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. Victoria Police arrested a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man at the scene, and he remains in custody and under investigation. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said the act appeared deliberate, though the motive has not been determined. Witnesses told Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke the driver made a U-turn and hit Dr Haines twice. Political leaders across the spectrum have sent their best wishes for her recovery.
