The man accused of mowing down federal MP Helen Haines several times has reportedly claimed that it was an accident and that he panicked.
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he → accuse → Haines
The independent MP for Indi in Victoria's north-east remains in a serious but stable condition at The Alfred in Melbourne after both of her legs were amputated.
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both → remain → legs
Brendan Nugent, 43, is accused of ramming his Toyota LandCruiser into Haines outside her office in Wangaratta on October 19 in what police alleged was a deliberate attack.
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police → accuse → October
He remains behind bars after being charged with multiple offences, including dangerous driving causing serious harm, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
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He → remain → official
Several sources familiar with the investigation told The Age that Nugent claimed that he never intended to drive into Haines.
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he → tell → Haines
Nugent insisted he has never held a grudge against Haines and that his alleged actions at the scene was driven by panic.
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actions → insist → panic
He also claimed that he had previously voted for Haines, who has been the local federal MP for Indi since 2019.
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who → claim → 2019
Police and federal authorities continue to investigate any pre-existing connections between Nugent and Haines as they try to establish a motive.
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they → continue → motive
Brendan Nugent has reportedly claimed that the alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines was an accident
He also claimed that he had previously voted for Helen Haines, who has been the federal MP for Indi since 2019.
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who → claim → 2019
'We're checking all records, both Helen's, ours and others,' Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush told reporters last week.
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Bush → check → reporters
'And we are not ruling out further serious charges.'
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we → rule → charges
It was previously revealed that Nugent's father, Rod, and his partner, Christine Cunningham, have been friends with Haines for more than two decades.
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father → reveal → decades
Officers are also investigating a potential rift between Nugent and his family as part of their inquiries.
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Officers → investigate → inquiries
It follows reports that Mr Nugent and Ms Cunningham had not had a civil conversation with Brendan Nugent for more than four years and last saw him 10 months ago when he turned up at their home unannounced.
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he → follow → home
Commissioner Bush was asked last Friday whether police were investigating the possibility that Nugent's alleged attack on Haines was a 'proxy' for grievances involving his family.
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attack → ask → family
'Yes, it is,' he told ABC Mildura.
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he → tell → Mildura
'It sounds like a cliché, but every line of inquiry is open...
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line → sound → inquiry
Every action is under review.'
Brendan Nugent, 43, is accused of ramming his Toyota LandCruiser into Haines outside her office in Wangaratta on October 19 in what police alleged was a deliberate attack.
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police → accuse → October
Brendan Nugent, 43,(pictured following his arrest) remains behind bars after being charged with multiple offences, including dangerous driving causing serious harm, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
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Nugent → follow → official
He added that Nugent's father and Ms Cunningham had been 'absolutely cooperating' with the police investigation.
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father → add → investigation
All sides of parliament united in paying heartfelt tributes to Haines when it sat on Monday for the first time since the alleged attack.
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it → unite → attack
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.
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words → tell → responders
Nugent's case will return to Wangaratta Local Court on February 4 for a committal mention hearing.
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case → return → hearing
The update comes as Haines' staff prepare to reopen her electorate offices in Wangaratta and Wodonga on Thursday.
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staff → come → Thursday
'Thank you to everyone who continues to show such care and support for Helen, her family and our team,' a statement on Haines' page read.
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statement → thank → page
The Aporia
