A BODY modifier who is accused of mutilating a woman's genitals at a business at Newcastle West in 2016 and killing another woman by implanting a plastic snowflake in her hand will face a trial in Sydney next year.
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Brendan Leigh Russell, 38, is accused of using a branding iron to burn the labia majora off the alleged victim, causing her permanent injury, according to court documents.
Mr Russell and his co-accused in the alleged genital mutilation, 41-year-old body modifier Howard Rollins, have pleaded not guilty and will face an estimated three to four week trial in Sydney Downing Centre District Court on May 4.
Mr Rollins, known in the body modification industry as "Luna Cobra" and the self-proclaimed American inventor of the eyeball tattoo, appeared in Gosford District Court earlier this month where he pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting female genital mutilation.
The 42-year-old is accused of coaching Mr Russell to perform the procedure where the branding iron was allegedly used.
Detectives also claim Mr Russell implanted a plastic snowflake under Samantha Hegyl's right hand in early 2017 but when she complained of being in pain, the body modifier allegedly urged her to visit him and not go to hospital.
Mr Russell then allegedly rotated the snowflake and inserted a second one in Ms Hegyl's heavily infected hand but she died weeks later.
He has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and appeared in Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Friday where that matter was also listed for trial on May 4, 2020.
Body modification is not legislated in NSW, however members of the so-called skin penetration industry are required to follow public health regulations.
