Man accused over Helen Haines attack stays in custody as husband says she has lost both legs

The 43-year-old did not apply for bail and will be back in court in February. Police say they have not ruled out further serious charges.

Confirmed

Brendan Nugent, 43, of Tarrawingee, is accused over the attack on independent federal MP Helen Haines. He has been remanded in custody. He appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates' Court in Victoria on Wednesday. He did not apply for bail and will face court again in February, Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported. He has been charged but not convicted. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said police are "not ruling out further serious charges". Ms Haines, the 65-year-old MP for Indi, has now lost both legs. Her husband, Phil Haines, said her left leg was amputated on Monday. Doctors could not save her right leg on Wednesday afternoon. "The good news in all this is Helen is alive and she's stable," he said. She remains in a critical condition, AAP reported. A young bystander, Jacob Evans, put a tourniquet on her leg. "I've always been the nerd with the first-aid kit," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. Governor-General Sam Mostyn said Australians can "wrestle the issue, not the person". It is not yet known whether more charges will be laid.