The man accused of running down Helen Haines claims he had no grudge against the politician and that striking her repeatedly with his car was entirely accidental.
Haines, 65, is in a serious but stable condition at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital after losing both legs in the incident outside her Wangaratta electorate office on October 19.
Victorian and federal police allege it was a targeted attack on the independent MP by local resident Brendan Nugent.
Witnesses have said Nugent’s car did a U-turn on the street and struck Haines about 3.30pm, pinning her to the back of her own car. The Toyota LandCruiser 4WD then allegedly reversed and struck her at least once more.
Nugent was detained at the scene by passers-by and has since been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
Two sources familiar with the case, but unable to speak publicly, said Nugent has said he never intended to drive into Haines and that his behaviour at the scene was caused by panic.
The 43-year-old has also dismissed suggestions he may have held a grudge against Haines or her politics, saying he had previously voted for the House of Representatives member for the seat of Indi. She was first elected in 2019 and then re-elected in 2022 and 2025.
Police, including counter-terrorism officers, and ASIO are continuing to investigate whether there were any pre-existing connections between Nugent and Haines, and whether he had become fixated on the politician. Among the lines of inquiry are whether the alleged attack was opportunistic or premeditated.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said in the days after the incident that detectives were still working to understand the “deliberate” attack and whether Nugent had any personal contact with Haines or had been waiting for her outside her Wangaratta office.
“We’re checking all records, both of Helen’s, ours, and others,” Bush said at a press conference. “And we are not ruling out further serious charges.”
Bush also confirmed to the ABC that police were examining a theory that Nugent’s alleged attack on Haines could have been a “proxy” for a dispute involving his family.
Nugent’s family, who were estranged from him, said in a statement last week that they were devastated by the alleged attack on Haines, their “close friend of more than 20 years”.
“We will be assisting Victoria Police in any way we can,” said his father, Rod, and stepmother, Christine Cunningham, a health executive who has worked with Haines. “We would like to sincerely thank members of the local community and police who came to Helen’s aid yesterday after the shocking and horrific crime.”
On Monday, an orange cardboard cockatoo sat in Haines’ vacant seat in the House of Representatives as tearful MPs paid tribute to her decency and shared hopes she would continue her service soon.
Her husband, Phil, told those assembled that Haines’ first words after waking from surgery were to express concern for her staff and gratitude to first responders.
This masthead has previously reported that Nugent allegedly suffered from a number of mental health conditions that had caused him to grow increasingly isolated and erratic in the lead up to the incident. This has included a number of stays at psychiatric facilities, including the Kerferd Unit operated by Albury and Wodonga Health.
Nugent’s online history is littered with posts about his personal struggles with mental health, suicidal ideation, chronic pain and homelessness.
“I have a masters degree, H1 average, still can[not] get the basic assistance,” he wrote. “I need to work. Tried many times. Disability pension not enough to manage it so I’m constantly broke spending on health, NDIS is unavailable,” Nugent posted online in May 2022.
He had become reclusive at his rural property just outside Wangaratta, and his online activity suggests he was engaging with doomsday, far-left and anarchist accounts and ideologies. He had previously been known as a dedicated and conscientious environmentalist.
During his first court appearance, Nugent’s lawyer, Chirag Patel, told a magistrate his client suffered from a rare neurological condition, idiopathic transverse myelitis, and had a concussion caused by the accident but was not on any prescribed medication.
Nugent was sent for an urgent mental health assessment by order of the magistrate after he was remanded in custody. He did not apply for bail and is due back in court in February.
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