The man accused of a one-punch attack on former Labor strategist Tim Picton, who died in hospital last month, has had his charge upgraded to manslaughter.
Brodie Jake Dewar, 20, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court this morning via video link, charged with hitting Mr Picton outside a Perth nightclub in the early hours of December 27.Â
The 36-year-old was found unresponsive on the ground and taken to Royal Perth Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but died around three weeks later.Â
Tim Picton died more than three weeks after he was allegedly knocked unconscious in Perth’s CBD. (Supplied: Mineral Resources)
Over a dozen of Mr Dewar’s friends and family packed into the small courtroom to hear the upgraded charge read out.
Crying could be heard from the back row when his face appeared on screen.Â
Mr Dewar only spoke twice, once to acknowledge the upgraded charge and the second time to say “love you too” in response to comments of “love you Brodie” from his supporters.
Court told of statement from cousin
It is expected the initial grievous bodily harm charge Mr Dewar faced prior to Mr Picton’s death will be discontinued when he appears in court next Friday for a bail application.
The defendant’s lawyer told Magistrate Benjamin White he was planning to file a statement from Mr Dewar’s cousin “who was with him in the nightclub [and] with whom the deceased interacted”, which he said was relevant to the strength of the case.
Tim Picton pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. (Supplied: WA Labor)
Mr Picton had a distinguished career in politics, spearheading the campaign behind WA Labor’s landslide 2021 state election victory, and was most recently a director of strategy for mining giant Mineral Resources.
He was the father of a four-year-old girl and the brother of South Australia’s Health Minister, Chris Picton.
Separate alleged attackÂ
Mr Dewar has also been charged with knocking another man unconscious two days prior to the alleged attack on Mr Picton, and posting footage of the aftermath online.
He faced court last month accused of assaulting a man twice his age in Kalamunda, in the Perth Hills, on Christmas Day.
Brodie Jake Dewar had his bail revoked at his last court appearance. (ABC News: Callum Liddelow )
Police said the pair were seen briefly speaking before Mr Dewar allegedly struck the 40-year-old in the head, causing him to fall backwards on the pavement, injuring his face.
Mr Dewar was charged with acts or omissions causing bodily harm or danger.
It is this charge, which came to light after the charge relating to Mr Picton, for which he was initially denied bail.
Footage to form part of bail bid
In court today, Mr Dewar’s lawyer said part of the bail application due to be heard next week would centre on footage of the Kalamunda incident, which he said was not shown in full to the magistrate who denied Mr Dewar bail.
That hearing was shown CCTV of the alleged attack in the shopping centre car park near the Kalamunda Hotel.
Mr Dewar’s hearing last month was shown CCTV of the alleged attack in a car park near the Kalamunda Hotel. (State Library of Western Australia: Philip Gostelow)
The defence lawyer said today he understood from speaking to Mr Dewar that there had been an incident between the complainant and Mr Dewar’s 18-year-old sister in the lead-up to the alleged attack.
Prosecutors said they had not been advised about the application and were not prepared, and both charges were adjourned to next Friday.
During last month’s hearing, the court was told Mr Dewar knocked the alleged victim unconscious before filming him on his phone and sharing it on the social media app Snapchat.
“My younger sister hey, don’t hit on my younger sister next time brother. Keep snoring,” Mr Dewar said in the video shown in court.
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