Brendan Russell faces court after death of young mum Samantha Hegyi
THE first body modifier in the world to be charged with the manslaughter death of one of his clients has faced court after spending his first night behind bars.
Central Coast
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- Brendan Russell faces court over mutilation claims
- Genital mutilation allegations prompt Erina Fair raid
BRENDAN Leigh Russell has spent his first night behind bars after becoming the first body modifier in the world to be charged with the manslaughter death of one of his clients.
The 37-year-old — who has already been charged with using a branding iron to burn off parts of a woman’s genitalia — was arrested at his Terrigal home yesterday and later charged with the manslaughter of young mum Samantha Hegyi.
The 30-year-old’s body was discovered by her seven-year-old daughter in their Toowoon Bay home on Wednesday, April 12, last year.
A post mortem examination found septicaemia was the cause of death, specifically an infected right hand.
Detectives from the Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes police districts formed joint strike force Nellievale following the incident.
Inquiries allegedly revealed the Ms Hegyi had undergone body modification surgery to her hand three weeks prior to her death at his tattoo and piercing shop Transition at Erina Fair.
Police allege she complained about complications relating to the implant of a “plastic snowflake” under her skin shortly after the procedure.
Officers have been investigating another complaint by a second woman, aged 38, who underwent a tummy tuck procedure at the business in November 2016.
Following inquiries, officers arrested Mr Russell yesterday and later charged him with Ms Hegyi’s manslaughter and the grievous bodily harm of the 38-year-old woman.
Mr Russell was refused bail to appear at Gosford Local Court this morning.
His solicitor Mac Riviere told the court while the charges were serious it was not like Mr Russell was violent or sought out his victims.
He said police would have known the circumstances of Ms Hegyi’s death back in April 2017 when “a full brief” was provided to the coroner.
He said police also knew about it when they raided his Terrigal home and Erina business in May but after charging him then deemed he was not a risk to the community “when they granted him bail”.
‘The police did not consider Mr Russell a risk between April 12 (last year) and May 1,” he said.
Mr Riviere said Mr Russell had alway abided by his bail conditions and should the matter proceed to trial it would not happen until late next year or early 2020.
However Magistrate Bruce Williams said Mr Russell “self promoted” himself as an expert in these types of medical procedures and that was why victims sought him out.
Mr Williams said he performed both the role of surgeon and anaesthetist where in common medical practice that was done by at least two people because “one person cannot perform both functions adequately”.
He described the alleged offences as “reckless” and there was no evidence to show why “his detention is not justified”.
He formally refused him bail to reappear on October 12 via video link.
It comes after Mr Russell was arrested and charged with one count of mutilating a third woman’s genitalia in May.
Charge sheets tendered to court in that matter allege he used a branding iron to burn off a 33-year-old’s labia major at a Newcastle West tattoo parlour in 2016.
It is understood the woman went to the parlour for a procedure but then later made a formal complaint to police of mutilation.
It is understood strike force detectives had been had been awaiting the results of an expert medical report in relation to Ms Hegyi’s death before formally charging him with her manslaughter.
Body modification is currently not legislated in NSW however members of the so-called skin penetration industry are required to follow public health regulations.
Mr Russell is not a qualified medical practitioner but has posted on social media a statement of attainment from Queensland TAFE for “maintain infection control standards in office practice settings”.
On social media Mr Russell has said he performs body piercing, scarification, tongue slitting and subdermal implant procedures.
It will be alleged Mr Russell performed the procedures using local anaesthetic, which he is not qualified or legally entitled to do.