Man Charged Over Alleged Attack on MP Helen Haines Remains in Custody
Brendan Nugent, 43, will remain in custody after appearing in court on Wednesday charged over an alleged attack on independent federal MP Helen Haines, The Guardian reported. He did not request bail. He is from Tarrawingee, in northern Victoria.
Nugent appeared at Wangaratta magistrates court and faces three charges. These are dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and a federal offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, meaning an official of the Australian government. He is due back before the court for a committal mention, a short hearing at which a case is moved toward a higher court, on 4 February.
Haines was struck by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, according to the charges laid against Nugent. She lost a leg. Doctors at Melbourne's Alfred hospital were working to save her other leg, and she remained in critical but stable condition.
The police account of the incident, published by Victoria Police, says detectives from its Security Investigation Unit charged a man after the incident in Wangaratta. Nugent's lawyer told the court he had concussion and a condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis. Magistrate Allison Vaughan noted his mental health and neurological concerns, and that it was his first time in custody.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said investigators were considering further charges against Nugent, including attempted murder. Police have not ruled out additional charges, according to the ABC. Bush and Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett said police did not allege a motive, and that the investigation was continuing. Both commissioners also said they had no intelligence indicating a threat to Haines before the alleged attack.
The ABC reported that Nugent's online history showed he had once complimented Haines. That material is part of the broader reporting and does not itself form a police allegation.
Barrett described the political environment as "febrile" and said the AFP was charging roughly one person a week over alleged threats against politicians. She made the remarks in comments that were published as a video by the Guardian.
The AFP and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the country's domestic intelligence agency, were due to hold additional safety briefings for federal MPs on Wednesday. Around six such sessions had been held earlier in the year.
