news, national

Two self-proclaimed body modifiers will stand trial in NSW after denying female genital mutilation offences. One of the men, 38-year-old Brendan Leigh Russell, is also accused of causing a woman's death by implanting a plastic snowflake under her right hand. Russell allegedly implanted the snowflake under Samantha Hegyl's skin in early 2017 and urged her to visit him instead of going to hospital when she complained of being in pain. Her hand became infected and she died weeks later from blood poisoning. Russell is also accused of using a branding iron to mutilate another female customer's genitals in 2016. Court documents allege Russell - who's not a qualified medical practitioner and used the "modification name" Bslicedotcom on social media - mutilated the woman by "burning the labia majora off the victim with a branding iron" at Newcastle West. He's pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent and female genital mutilation. The Central Coast man said nothing as he faced Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday. His co-accused, 41-year-old Howard Rollins, was represented in court by barrister Margaret Cunneen SC. Russell's third alleged victim was a woman who visited his Erina tattoo and body modification business for a "tummy tuck" but ended up in hospital with a five-cent-piece hole in her skin and severed stomach muscles. Rollins - who calls himself Luna Cobra - has pleaded not guilty to a charge of aiding and abetting female genital mutilation. He's accused of coaching Russell to perform the procedure where the branding iron was allegedly used. Judge Helen Syme on Friday listed the two men for a three-week NSW District Court trial from May 4 in 2020. Australian Associated Press

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