# Police weigh attempted murder charge in Haines attack

> Brendan Nugent faces three charges over his alleged assault on federal MP Helen Haines, with police considering more serious charges including attempted murder.
- Title: Police weigh attempted murder charge in Haines attack · Abc
- Summary: Brendan Nugent faces three charges over his alleged assault on federal MP Helen Haines, with police considering more serious charges including attempted…
- Keywords: breaking, brendan nugent, helen haines, victoria police, australian federal police, wangaratta, assault, news, politics, Police, weigh, attempted
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-21/victoria-police-and-afp-commissioners-on-helen-haines/107290926
- Published: 2026-10-20T22:41:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, brendan nugent, helen haines, victoria police, australian federal police, wangaratta, assault, news, politics
## Three charges laid in Haines attack
Brendan Nugent, forty-three, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official over his alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines on Monday.
## Further charges not ruled out
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said police have not ruled out laying further charges, including attempted murder.

> While I say this investigation is far from complete, we are not ruling out further serious charges
## Police investigating motive
Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police will investigate whether Brendan Nugent was involved in the sovereign citizen movement or whether the attack was personal.
## Haines remains in critical condition
Helen Haines, sixty-five, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. Nugent appears to be a long-time resident in her electorate, and his family said they were long-time friends of Haines.
## Key takeaway

Police have not ruled out laying further charges including attempted murder against Brendan Nugent, forty-three, over his alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines on Monday.