Australian MP Helen Haines loses both legs after alleged targeted car attack
publishers 59articles 89first reported 19 Oct, 09:15 UTCdeveloping since 19 Oct · 11 editionstop 25 #13
Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines has had both legs amputated after being struck by an SUV outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne, on Monday. Her husband, Phil Haines, said Wednesday that the 65-year-old MP was alive and in stable condition after doctors were unable to save her legs.
“The good news in all this is Helen is alive and she’s stable,” he told reporters at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital. “We are grateful at this stage that both her heart and her mind are in good shape.”
Police allege the collision was a targeted, deliberate attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said preliminary information indicated the driver made a U-turn before striking Haines near her car. Witness accounts cited by Deutsche Welle said she was pinned between vehicles and struck again after the SUV reversed.
Brendan Nugent, 43, appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. He did not apply for bail.
Bystanders detained the driver until police arrived. Local barber Ricky Jefferies said he removed a knife from the man’s pocket while restraining him.
Counterterrorism investigators have joined the inquiry, but police say the incident appears isolated. Authorities have not identified a motive and said they had received no specific intelligence warning of a threat to Haines, who has represented the rural seat of Indi since 2019.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 54 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- This version written
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