Brendan Nugent stares in silence as a court hears about his alleged attack on Helen Haines

There were no family or friends inside the Wangaratta magistrates court to support the accused, a 43-year-old from Tarrawingee

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The media pack was so large when it descended on Wangaratta magistrates court on Wednesday morning that not everyone could fit in the courtroom. They spilled into the hallway, forced to try to log in remotely or pick up clues from afar.

Everyone was hoping to catch a glimpse of Brendan Nugent, who was arrested less than 100 metres away two days earlier after allegedly ramming the independent MP Helen Haines twice in a targeted attack outside her electorate office.

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