A man was charged Thursday with threatening an Australian lawmaker’s staff with nunchaku days after federal MP Helen Haines was seriously injured when a man hit her with a car.
Prosecutors in Perth District Court said on Thursday that John Lawrence Smart, 56, was shouting when he entered the election office of Western Australia’s state government minister, Hannah Beasley, on Wednesday, demanding to see her.
Western Australia Police He said it was alleged The man made “verbal threats while in possession of an improvised martial arts weapon (nunchucks).”
Paisley was not in the office at the time and two employees remained safe behind a security barrier in the office. No one was hurt.
in Post on FacebookPaisley thanked everyone who reached out to her and checked on her and her employees after the incident that occurred in her office.
“It was a difficult situation for the two employees who were present at the time, and I thank the police officers who attended for their quick response and the actions they took to arrest the individual,” Beasley wrote.
Paisley said her staff “did an amazing job” and “did everything right – providing the information WA Police needed quickly”.
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She added: “The matter is now before the courts, so I will not comment on the details of the incident further.” “As a Victoria Park member, I love spending every day working for and representing local people, and that won’t change.”
During his court appearance, Smart said he was holding birds, not nunchakus, according to the Associated Press. Claves are wooden sticks used as a percussion instrument.
A nunchaku is a controlled weapon used in martial arts that consists of two or more clubs connected by a rope, rope, or chain. In accordance with Western Australian law. Nunchucks can only be carried in public places in the state for use in legitimate sports, training, or teaching martial arts.
Judge Heidi Watson denied Smart bail, saying he posed a potential danger to himself and the public, the Associated Press reported.
She ordered a medical evaluation for Smart while in custody. He had previously been involuntarily hospitalized due to schizophrenia.
Smart did not enter pleas To devour Arming or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear or an unlawful threat.
There has been no allegation that Smart’s alleged behavior was related to the driver who struck Hines with his car in the east coast state of Victoria on Monday.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident at Paisley’s office added to a “horrific week” in Australian politics.
“The fact that you were involved in this accident so soon after the tragedy that occurred with Helen Haines in Wangaratta on Monday is absolutely heartbreaking,” Albanese told Mark Gibson. On 102.5 ABC Perth.
On Wednesday, Haines’ husband said she had her legs amputated after the alleged attack.
Victoria Police claims That the incident was targetedafter Haines was struck by a white Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office on Monday.
The 65-year-old independent politician is receiving treatment in a Melbourne hospital, where she was transferred by helicopter.
Phil Haines, Helen’s husband, shared his first public statements about his wife’s condition on Wednesday.
He said that Helen’s left leg was amputated on Monday and her right leg was amputated on Wednesday.
“The good news in all of this is that Helen is alive and stable. This is the most important thing to our family,” Phil told reporters in Melbourne.
“We are thankful and grateful that at this point, her heart and mind are in good shape,” he said, adding that their 40th wedding anniversary will be in November.
Albanese said witnesses reported that the suspect first passed Haines in his vehicle on Monday while she was standing next to the trunk of her parked car.
The car then turned around and returned before the politician was hit, the Prime Minister said.
Eyewitnesses said that the driver hit his victim, pinning her against her car before she reversed and hit her a second time.
The man accused of running over Helen made his first appearance in court on Wednesday.
It was Brendan Nugent, 43 years old charged b Intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and harm to a federal official.
Nugent did not enter a plea and will remain in custody until his next court appearance in February.
—With files from The Associated Press
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