Australian lawmaker lost both legs in car crash... 'Condition stable'

An Australian lawmaker who was seriously injured in a deliberate car crash ended up losing both legs.

Helen Haynes (65), an independent lawmaker, had her left leg and then her right leg amputated due to an injury, her husband Phil Haynes announced on the 21st (local time).

“The good news is that Helen is alive and stable,” Phil said. “That’s the most important thing for our family.”

Representative Haines is receiving treatment at a hospital in Melbourne after being struck twice by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by Brendan Nugent (43) near his office in the Wangaratta region of Victoria, southeastern Australia, on the 19th.

Nugent, who was caught by citizens at the scene immediately after the incident, was charged with endangering a federal government official, intentional serious injury, serious injury by dangerous driving, cultivation of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

If found guilty of harming a public official, he or she may be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Nugent attended the hearing at Wangaratta Crown Court today, but did not apply for bail.

At the hearing, defense attorneys said Nugent suffers from idiopathic transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disease, and is also receiving treatment for a concussion. He also said the defendant suffered from mental health issues and that this was his first time in custody.

His next hearing is scheduled for February 4 next year.

Police believe that this attack was targeted at a specific target and is likely to be an isolated incident.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Chrissy Barrett said there were no signs of a threat targeting Representative Haynes or any specific information that could have predicted this incident.

Victoria State Police also said that they found no traces of past direct contact between Rep. Haynes and the defendant, and that the motive for the crime has not yet been revealed.

Victoria State Police Commissioner Mike Bush said, "The motive for the crime is a key factor that must be established. In this case, which is presumed to be a deliberate attack, the defendant's motive will be at the center of the investigation."

In Australia, violent attacks against politicians have traditionally been rare, and foreign media reported that not only lawmakers but even the prime minister can often be seen hanging out with citizens accompanied by a relatively small number of security personnel.

However, as threats from online sites targeting politicians are increasing due to recent political polarization, concerns about the safety of politicians are growing in the wake of this incident.

Therefore, there are voices calling for strengthening protection for politicians while maintaining 'high accessibility', a long-standing feature of Australian politics, Reuters explained.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanage said in a local radio interview that day that this incident "reminds us that the world has become a more dangerous and divided place than a generation ago," and lamented that recent political debates in Australia have become overly heated and personal attacks.