Body modifier Brendan Russell opts to cut hair instead of face arraignment for manslaughter, mutilation
A body modifier charged with the manslaughter of one female client and allegedly burning off parts of another woman’s genitalia has chosen to go to his new job rather than being arraigned, a court has heard.
- Brendan Russell faces court over death of young mum
- Tattooist Howard Rollins pleads not guilty to aiding genital mutilation
Brendan Leigh Russell, 38, was due to appear at Gosford District Court this morning to be arraigned on two serious charges of manslaughter and genital mutilation.
However a solicitor acting as agent for Mr Russell’s solicitor Ahmed Dib told the court Mr Russell was “newly employed” and had opted to go to his new job.
Judge David Wilson asked “he’s chosen to go to work instead of appearing in court?”.
Mr Russell’s agent replied “those are my instructions”.
Judge Wilson said it was “no laughing matter” before standing the matter in the list for Mr Russell’s agent to get further instructions.
He later adjourned Mr Russell’s arraignment until tomorrow.
Mr Russell is charged with the manslaughter of Samantha Hegyi, 30, after he allegedly implanted a plastic snowflake under the skin of her right hand using anaesthetics, scalpels and other medical equipment.
Gosford Local Court has previously heard the young mum went back to his Erina shop with a severely infected hand.
After reopening and draining the wound, the court heard he advised her to ring him if she needed any assistance.
The court heard the 30-year-old woman called him on April 11, 2018, and arranged to come back to his shop the following day.
She complained of the pain to a neighbour who told her to go to hospital but her seven-year-old daughter found Ms Hegyi dead at their Toowoon Bay home on April 12.
Police allege the woman died from blood poisoning caused by the operation.
At his last appearance Mr Russell’s solicitor Mr Dib successfully sought a bail variation to allow him to travel alone to and from his new job.
A previous condition was that he was not to leave his Terrigal address unless he was in the presence of his partner or mother.
Meanwhile Mr Russell’s co-accused Howard Rollins was arraigned this morning on one count of aiding and abetting him in burning off the labia majora of a woman on January 5, 2015, at Newcastle West.
Dressed in a check shirt, the 41-year-old self proclaimed American inventor of the eyeball tattoo who is known in the body modification industry as “Luna Cobra”, formally entered a plea of “not guilty”.
His solicitor David Kelly successfully applied to have Mr Rollins’ bail conditions varied so he could live in Melbourne.
Both matters were adjourned to tomorrow to set a trial date, with Mr Rollins excused if legally represented.
The court heard Mr Russell intended to make an application to have the trials separated.
**CLARIFICATION: A previous version of this story said Mr Russell was currently employed by Kingsmen Hair as a barber. This is incorrect. In fact, Mr Russell completed a one day trial at Kingsmen Hair and was an unsuccessful applicant for the job.**
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