Man charged with attack on Australia MP to face court

Man charged with attack on Australian MP to face court

The full report

A 43-year-old man has been charged after Australian MP Helen Haines was hit by a car in the state of Victoria on Monday. The suspect will appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and the federal offence of causing harm to a public official.

Local media earlier named the alleged attacker as environmental activist Brendan Nugent. His father and his partner said they had been friends with Haines 'for more than 20 years' and thanked residents and officers who helped her after the incident.

Haines remains in a critical condition after surgery and is reported to have lost one of her legs. The incident is alleged to have been targeted, according to police.

Haines, 65, the independent member for Indi, is in a critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery at a Melbourne hospital. She was airlifted there after bystanders rushed to help, including a local barber who pulled the suspect out of his car.

The barber, Ricky Jefferies, said he intervened in a safe manner, but noted that others who helped did not check for danger and sat in front of a rolling car.