Brodie Jake Dewar, aged 20, has pleaded not guilty to a manslaughter charge related to the alleged fatal assault of Tim Picton, a prominent figure in the Labor Party, in Northbridge, Perth, on December 27. Dewar’s legal representatives confirmed his intention to contest the accusations in court. Earlier, prosecutors chose to drop a grievous bodily harm charge connected to the same incident.
The court proceedings took place at Stirling Magistrates Court, where Dewar’s bail conditions were confirmed, amidst his family and friends’ support. Dewar did not engage with reporters and is set to return to court on May 27. Picton’s widow, Priya Brown, attended the hearing but did not speak to the press.
Picton, who was praised for his political acumen and contributions to the WA Labor Party, suffered his injuries after being struck in the face by Dewar following an earlier confrontation outside a nightclub. Prior reports indicated that Picton had been ejected from the Paramount Nightclub due to intoxication. The two reportedly encountered each other again after this event, resulting in Dewar allegedly delivering a blow to Picton, which caused him to fall and hit his head, ultimately leading to his death in hospital weeks later.
The impact of Picton’s death reverberated through the community, eliciting an outpouring of grief and condolences from various political leaders. The incident has reportedly been captured on CCTV.
In a separate incident occurring on Christmas Day, Dewar was also charged with assaulting a man outside the Kalamunda Hotel. This charge has since been resolved, with Dewar recently pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm. Reports reveal he had struck the older man after an altercation involving his sister, before later filming the man while making derogatory comments.
Dewar is scheduled for sentencing concerning the Kalamunda incident on May 6, while the investigation into the fatal assault on Picton continues.