A 20-year-old man accused of killing Labor figure Tim Picton in a one-punch attack outside a Perth nightclub has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.
Appearing in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court, Brodie Dewar, 20, denied killing Mr Picton, 36, in the early hours of December 27.
“Not guilty Your Honour,” Mr Dewar said in court when the charge was put to him.
Mr Picton was allegedly knocked unconscious and spent weeks in a coma before he died in hospital.
Mr Dewar had previously been charged with causing grievous bodily harm over the alleged attack, but the charge was upgraded to manslaughter following Mr Picton’s death.
The grievous bodily harm charge was dismissed by the court on Wednesday, along with another charge of acts or omissions causing bodily harm or danger to any person over a separate incident in Kalamunda on Christmas Eve last year.
Mr Dewar pleaded guilty to a lesser charge over the Kalamunda incident in the Armadale Magistrates Court last week.
The court extended Mr Dewar’s bail conditions until he is due to appear again in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court for a disclosure committal hearing on May 27.
Mr Picton played a key role in WA Labor’s 2021 state election campaign, helping secure a landslide victory, and most recently served as director of strategy at mining company Mineral Resources.
His brother Chris Picton is a minister in the South Australian government. He holds several portfolios in defence, veterans’ affairs and state development.
