Brendan Nugent in court after vehicle critically injures Australian MP Helen Haines
The man accused of attacking Australian MP Helen Haines has appeared in court on multiple charges today, and police say the investigation remains far from complete.
Haines, the independent federal member for Indi, was critically injured when a vehicle hit her outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday.
Authorities allege the driver made a U-turn before pinning her between two vehicles. The 65-year-old has since lost a leg in surgery and remains in a critical condition.
Brendan Nugent, 43, appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates Court this morning charged with causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, intentionally causing serious harm and dangerous driving causing serious harm.
In the hearing that lasted less than five minutes, it was revealed Nugent had a rare neurological disorder that can cause spinal pain, the ABC News reported.
“My client suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis. It’s a neurological disorder and he’s been suffering from concussion,” the lawyer said.
Documents released by the court showed police had laid extra charges of cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis.
The lawyer said there were no concerns about Nugent withdrawing from drugs or alcohol and he was not on any medication.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said investigators were examining the case and had not ruled out further charges.
“That’s always a consideration,” Bush said when asked whether an attempted murder charge remained on the table.
“Of course, we have to locate and follow the evidence, but this is a very serious and tragic incident, and we will be looking at all serious charges.”
Bush said police believed the incident was a “deliberate but isolated act” and stressed the investigation was continuing.
The inquiry is led by Victoria Police’s Special Investigation Unit and Major Collision Investigation Unit, with support from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
Police have also deployed extra officers to Wangaratta and established a centralised system to monitor and respond to threats against politicians before the federal election campaign.
The press conference was light on details as the accused is now before the courts. Bush declined to discuss the accused’s mental health, whether drugs or medication may have played a role, and what was seized during searches of his home.
“I can’t jeopardise any subsequent court hearing by going into that detail,” he said.
Police are also examining reports of a possible connection between Nugent and Haines or her family.
A member of Nugent’s family told the media they had been friends with Haines for “more than 20 years”.
The attack has prompted fresh warnings from law enforcement agencies about a rise in threats directed at politicians.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the attack was something authorities had feared for some time as threats against politicians continued to increase.
She said national security investigation teams were “charging almost one individual every week for targeting Commonwealth parliamentarians or high office holders”.
Barrett said investigators were seeing growing political polarisation, anti-Government sentiment, conspiracy-driven behaviour and increasing levels of extremist views, particularly online.
“The shocking alleged attack ... is what many had been dreading for some time,” she said.
Haines remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition as the investigation continues.