Helen Haines loses second leg as accused attacker appears in court
Australian MP Helen Haines has lost both legs after Monday's alleged car attack, her husband said, according to SBS News. Brendan Nugent, 43, appeared in court charged over the attack and made no bail request, ABC News reported. He is due back in court on February 4.
Independent MP Helen Haines has lost her second leg after Monday's alleged car attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, her husband said Wednesday, SBS News reported. "Helen's left leg was amputated on Monday. We had been hoping that her right leg would be saved, but as of this afternoon and this morning, the surgeons had to also remove her right leg," he said, according to SBS. "But the good news in all this is Helen is alive, and she's stable."
Brendan Nugent, 43, the man accused of driving into Haines, faced Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning local time, ABC News reported. He is charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the federal offense of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Court documents showed police also charged him with cultivating and possessing cannabis, ABC News and SBS reported.
His lawyer said Nugent suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder, and was not currently medicated, ABC News reported. No bail application was made, and Nugent did not enter a plea. Police must complete a brief of evidence by December 24, and the case returns to court on February 4, Magistrate Vaughan said, according to ABC News. He was remanded in custody, SBS reported.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said the investigation was "far from complete" and that police were not ruling out "further serious charges," ABC News reported. Police have yet to determine a motive and are examining any personal links between Nugent and Haines, as well as whether he was part of the sovereign citizen movement, SBS reported. The Australian Federal Police said it had no forewarning of any imminent threat to Haines, according to SBS.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said extra security would be put in place for next month's state election, SBS reported. Haines, 65, was pinned by a Toyota LandCruiser that witnesses allege repeatedly rammed her, ABC News reported.
What we know: Haines has lost both legs and is stable, and Nugent, 43, faces five charges and remains in custody until a February 4 hearing.
What we don't: The alleged motive and whether police will lay further charges.
Where outlets agree ABC News and SBS report that Nugent faced court Wednesday, did not apply for bail and also faces cannabis charges.
Where they differ ABC News reported at the time of the hearing that Haines had one leg amputated, while SBS later reported her husband said her right leg had also been amputated.