MP struck twice outside her office

Independent lawmaker Helen Haines was rammed by a car outside her electoral office in Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne, on Monday. The vehicle struck her twice.

Both legs amputated after severe injuries

Doctors amputated Haines' left leg immediately. They worked for days to save her right leg but were ultimately unsuccessful. She remains in stable condition.

“The good news in all this is Helen is alive and she's stable. That is the most important thing for our family.”

Suspect charged with multiple offences

Brendan Nugent, a forty three year old resident of Tarrawingee, was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a public official.

Suspect has neurological condition

During a court appearance on Wednesday, the accused's lawyer said his client suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis and was being treated for concussion. The lawyer told the magistrate his client had mental health concerns.

Police still investigating the motive

Police allege the attack was targeted but believe it was isolated. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said there was no intelligence suggesting any threat to Haines before the attack. Motive remains unknown.

“What I can say is we didn't have any specific intelligence that would have indicated something as atrocious as happened on Monday afternoon.”

Case deferred until February fourth

There was no application for bail. The case was deferred until February fourth. Anti-terrorism police are among the agencies investigating the incident.