Accused driver reportedly tells investigators he panicked after striking Helen Haines
Brendan Nugent, who is accused of driving into federal MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office, has reportedly told investigators it was an accident and that he panicked. Police allege the incident was deliberate; the reported account has not been tested in court, and investigators are still working to establish a motive.
Haines, the independent MP for Indi in Victoria, remains in a serious but stable condition after both legs were amputated. Nugent, 43, is in custody facing several charges, including dangerous driving causing serious harm and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. Police are examining possible connections between the pair and a potential family dispute; his case is due back in Wangaratta Local Court on 4 February.
In short
- Nugent reportedly says he panicked and the collision was accidental.
- Police allege the incident was deliberate and continue investigating motive.
- Haines remains seriously but stably ill after both legs were amputated.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The strongest case for the reported account is that an accident followed by panic could explain why a driver did not stop or seek help immediately, without implying an intention to injure Haines. Nugent is entitled to have that account assessed on evidence in court, and investigators should establish motive and circumstances before treating the allegation of deliberate action as proven.
The case against
The strongest case for the allegation of deliberate action is that police may have evidence about the circumstances, any prior connection between the pair and a possible family dispute that points to intent rather than an accident. A serious collision causing catastrophic injuries warrants careful investigation, though the allegation remains untested and the reported account must also be considered.
Explained simply
Helen Haines is an independent member of Australia’s federal Parliament, representing Indi, an electorate in north-east Victoria. Federal MPs make laws and represent their constituents, and their work can involve contact with the public at local offices such as Haines’s in Wangaratta.
Brendan Nugent is accused of hitting Haines with a vehicle outside that office. He faces several charges, but the allegations have not been tested in court; investigators are still examining what happened and whether the pair had any connection or dispute. The case matters because Haines was seriously injured and one of the charges concerns harm to a Commonwealth public official.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Extraordinary claim from man accused of mowing down MP Helen Haines in horror attack that cost her both legs: ‘Accident’”.