Man charged over woman’s body modification death

A MAN who claims to be an expert in ‘modifying bodies’ has been charged with manslaughter after a woman died following a botched procedure he allegedly conducted.

A MAN who claims to be an expert in ‘modifying bodies’ has been charged with manslaughter after a woman died following a botched procedure he allegedly conducted.

Brendan Russell was arrested at his Terrigal home on Monday morning, following a police investigation into the death of a 30-year-old mother who had a plastic snowflake embedded into her hand at Russell’s tattoo studio in the Central Coast.

Her body was found by her daughter at their Toowoon Bay home on April 12, last year, just three weeks after the procedure.

Body modification artist Brendan Russell has been charged with manslaughter. Picture: Facebook

A post-mortem concluded the mother died as a result of septicaemia from a severe infection on the back of her right hand.

For 12 months, Strike Force Nellievale investigated bizarre procedures led by the 37-year-old who is seen in multiple online videos, slicing into the flesh of paying customers, all in the name of art.

Russell allegedly implanted a plastic snowflake under a woman’s skin. Picture: Sue Graham

The strike force was raised after two other complaints from women against Russell, with one claiming she received a botched stomach ‘modification procedure’ in November 2016 and another woman was permanently disfigured after Russell allegedly mutilated her genitalia with a branding iron in May this year.

Brendan Russell’s social media pages show images of procedures being performed. Picture: Instagram.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard has previously slammed the body modification industry, pledging to tighten regulations.

Mr Hazzard said at the time a tough statewide crackdown was imminent after the Health Care Complaints Commission issued a warning about the industry.

A Facebook image of a hand implant Brendan Russell claimed he had performed.

“This so-called body modification is just plain wacko and can lead to permanent maiming,” Mr Hazzard told The Daily Telegraph in May.

“I have asked the Ministry of Health to expedite regulatory changes announced last week as part of the cosmetic surgery review.”

A Facebook image of a tongue split Brendan Russell said he had performed.

Russel was taken to the Gosford Police Station today where he was charged with manslaughter in connection to the first incident and grievous bodily harm, relating to the second.

He was refused Police bail and is expected to face Gosford Local Court tomorrow.

Brendan Russell performing a scarification procedure on a woman at a New Zealand tattoo expo. Picture: Facebook