Source : Perth Now news
Lawyers for the man accused of a deliberate car attack on federal MP Helen Haines, leaving her fighting for life, have raised concerns for his mental health in his first court appearance.
Brendan Nugent appeared in the Wangaratta Magistrates Court about 10.10am on Wednesday, where he sat in a small wooden dock surrounded by glass and flanked by five security officers.
Wearing a grey long-sleeve jumper, the bearded man moved slowly, glancing around at the small packed courtroom before sitting down and facing directly ahead.
Magistrate Allison Vaughan told the court police would serve their case on Mr Nugent’s lawyers by December 24, with him to return to court on February 4.
Defence lawyer Chirag Patel said there would be no application for bail, before noting down a series of custody management issues.
“Yes Your Honour, there are some mental health concerns; my client suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis — it’s a neurological disorder,” he said. Mr Patel also said Mr Nugent was suffering from a concussion, and requested he be seen by a medical professional.
The court was told there were no concerns Mr Nugent was withdrawing from drugs or alcohol and he was not on any medication.
The hearing lasted less than five minutes and Mr Nugent was made to stand as Ms Vaughan remanded him into custody until the new year.
“You can remove Mr Nugent,” she said.
Dr Haines remains fighting for life two days after she was allegedly mowed down by the 43-year-old outside her Wangaratta office in Victoria’s northeast.
Bystanders in the area rushed to assist the independent MP, with Mr Nugent allegedly pulled from his car and placed under a citizen’s arrest before police arrived.
Mr Nugent has since been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the commonwealth offence of causing harm to a commonwealth public official.
Police allege the incident was targeted and have not ruled out further charges.
NED-15518-Helen-Haines-hit-graphic-V2Mr Nugent’s father Rod and his partner Christine Cunningham said Dr Haines had been their friend for more than two decades, describing the alleged events as “devastating and unfathomable”.“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 (alleged) crime,” they said. “All of our love and all of our thoughts are with Helen and her family and friends.”
Dr Haines has been a parliamentarian for the electorate of Indi since 2019 and previously worked as a nurse and health researcher.
