Police probe family rift as one line of inquiry in Haines attack
Police are looking at a family rift in the probe of the alleged attack on Helen Haines, an MP in Australia, ABC News reported. The state's police commissioner said it is one line of inquiry, ABC News said. Haines is still in critical condition in a hospital, ABC News and The Sydney Morning Herald said.
Police in Australia are looking at whether a family rift played a part in the alleged attack on MP Helen Haines, ABC News reported. Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush spoke on ABC Mildura on Friday morning in Australia. That was Thursday ET.
ABC Mildura asked if one line of inquiry was that the alleged attack was a "proxy" for attacking the accused man's family. Bush said "yes it is," ABC News reported. "It sounds like a cliche, but every line of inquiry is open ... Every action is under review," he said.
Brendan Nugent, 43, is accused of the attack, ABC News reported. He is accused of hitting Haines with his four-wheel drive outside her office in Wangaratta on Monday, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Haines has had both legs amputated, the paper said.
Bush said Nugent's father and the father's partner were "absolutely cooperating" and had been "very, very helpful," ABC News reported. The couple had been friends with Haines for two decades, they said earlier this week, according to ABC News. His family had long cut contact with Nugent but kept paying his bills, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Police are also looking at how Nugent dealt with neighbors, Bush said, according to ABC News. He said police will also look at what local officers did when they got those complaints. "They are wonderful people, our police in Wangaratta," he said.
When the attack happened, Wangaratta police were already looking into a report that Nugent menaced a woman with a claw hammer in September, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The paper said that came after an alleged road rage incident. Police are also checking whether the alleged attack was "opportunistic" or came from a fixation on Haines, the paper said.
Haines remains in critical condition at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne, ABC News and The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Neither cited report describes any new charges.
Bush also said police would take a "proactive" approach to keep politicians safe before the state vote on November 28, ABC News reported.
What we know: Police are probing a family rift as one line of inquiry, and Haines remains in critical condition.
What we don't: The motive for the alleged attack, and whether police will file more charges.
Where outlets agree ABC News and The Sydney Morning Herald report that Haines remains in critical condition at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.