Alleged attacker Brendan Nugent to appear in Wangaratta court
Brendan Nugent, the man accused of attacking Victorian MP Helen Haines, was held overnight and is expected to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates Court at 9.30 am today, Victoria Police said in a statement.
Haines, a long‑serving member of parliament known for her principled stance, suffered critical injuries in the incident, which police say was a targeted attack. The assault has prompted a wave of condemnation from politicians across the country.
Nugent faces three charges: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the Commonwealth offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. The charges reflect the severity of the alleged assault and the victim’s status as a public servant.
Police confirmed that the alleged attack took place in Victoria, and that the suspect was taken into custody the same day. He is scheduled to be processed by the magistrates court before any further legal proceedings.
Political leaders have described the incident as “deeply appalling” and have called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on Haines.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
