Brodie Jake Dewar's legal woes deepen as manslaughter charge replaces initial grievous bodily harm accusation following Tim Picton's death.
The 20-year-old, accused of delivering a fatal punch to former Labor strategist Tim Picton, who succumbed to his injuries in hospital last month, now faces a manslaughter charge. Dewar appeared in Perth Magistrates Court via video link, charged with the assault that occurred outside a Perth nightclub in the early hours of December 27th.
Mr. Picton, 36, was found unresponsive on the ground and rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with life-threatening injuries, ultimately passing away around three weeks later. Over a dozen of Dewar's friends and family attended the court proceedings, with audible sobbing from the back row as his face appeared on screen.
Dewar's only verbal exchanges were a brief acknowledgment of the upgraded charge and a heartfelt 'love you too' in response to his supporters' words of affection.
The court was informed of a statement from Dewar's cousin, who was present at the nightclub and interacted with the deceased. This statement is expected to be crucial in the case, as the initial grievous bodily harm charge is anticipated to be discontinued when Dewar appears in court next Friday for a bail application.
Mr. Picton's political career was illustrious, having played a pivotal role in the WA Labor's 2021 state election victory and serving as a director of strategy for Mineral Resources, a mining giant. He was also the father of a four-year-old and the brother of South Australia's Health Minister, Chris Picton.
Dewar's legal troubles extend beyond the Picton incident. He has been charged with knocking another man unconscious two days prior to the Picton assault and posting footage of the aftermath online. Dewar faced court last month, accused of assaulting a 40-year-old man in Kalamunda, in the Perth Hills, on Christmas Day. Police reported that the pair briefly spoke before Dewar allegedly struck the man in the head, causing him to fall and injure his face.
The footage of the Kalamunda incident will be a central part of Dewar's bail bid, which is set to be heard next week. Dewar's lawyer revealed that the magistrate who denied Dewar bail was not shown the full footage, and that there was an incident between the complainant and Dewar's 18-year-old sister leading up to the alleged attack.
Prosecutors were caught off guard by the application, as they had not been advised, and both charges were adjourned to next Friday. During the previous hearing, it was revealed that Dewar knocked the alleged victim unconscious, filmed him, and shared the footage on Snapchat, saying, 'My younger sister hey, don't hit on my younger sister next time brother. Keep snoring.'
The case has sparked debate, with many questioning the severity of the charges given the tragic outcome. The court's handling of the bail application and the release of footage have also raised eyebrows. As the legal proceedings unfold, the public awaits further developments, with many expressing their concerns and opinions in the comments section of news articles.
