Brendan Nugent Remanded Until February After First Court Appearance

Conceptual illustration of an empty courtroom with case folders

Updated: 21 October 2026, 11:22 am AEDT

Brendan Nugent was remanded in custody after his first appearance at Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 21 October, over the alleged car attack on independent federal MP Helen Haines. He did not apply for bail and is due back in court on 4 February for a committal mention, ABC court reporters said.

The 43-year-old Tarrawingee man faces charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. He was not required to enter a plea at the brief hearing. The charges remain allegations and have not been proven.

ABC reported that Magistrate Allison Vaughan set 24 December as the deadline for police to provide their brief of evidence to the defence. The magistrate also requested an immediate medical assessment for Nugent. Further details of the alleged offending were not aired in court.

BBC journalists attending the hearing independently confirmed that no bail application was made and that the case would return in February.

Haines, the member for Indi, was struck outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday, 19 October. She remains in a critical but stable condition, according to ABC. Wednesday’s hearing follows the charges laid on Tuesday evening and marks the next stage of the court process.

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