Helen Haines loses both legs as alleged attacker appears in court
Husband Phil Haines says surgeons had to remove the MP's right leg as well; Brendan Nugent was remanded in custody after his first court appearance.
Australian independent MP Helen Haines has lost both legs after being struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, her husband said on Wednesday.
Phil Haines told reporters outside The Alfred hospital in Melbourne that his wife’s left leg was amputated on Monday after the alleged attack, and that surgeons had been forced to remove her right leg that morning. The 65-year-old MP for Indi remains in a critical but stable condition.
“The good news in all this is Helen is alive and she’s stable. That is the most important thing for our family,” he said.
Brendan Nugent, 43, of Tarrawingee, appeared at Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning for his first court appearance. He remained silent, did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until February 4.
He faces charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and the federal offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, alongside cannabis cultivation and possession charges, according to court documents.
His lawyer, Chirag Patel, told the court Nugent suffered from the rare neurological condition idiopathic transverse myelitis and concussion. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said an attempted murder charge had not been ruled out and the investigation was continuing. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said police had no prior intelligence of any threat to the MP.
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