Court shown shocking footage of WA Labor figure’s assault as alleged attacker faces new charges

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A 20-year-old man who allegedly left an influential West Australian political and business figure in a coma at the end of last year also allegedly assaulted another man on Christmas Day.

Armadale Magistrates Court was shown confronting footage of both incidents when Lesmurdie man Brodie Jake Dewar, 20, appeared for a bail hearing on Friday.

Brodie Dewar leaves court after a previous appearance in December.

The court was told Dewar had already been charged with grievous bodily harm after allegedly assaulting Mineral Resources director and former WA Labor secretary Tim Picton in the early hours of December 27 outside a Northbridge club.

Footage played to the court on Friday showed Picton, 36, standing talking calmly to a man police allege was Dewar, who raises his right arm and punches Picton in the face.

Picton can be seen falling to the floor, where he remained still. He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

Police said the incident happened about 5.35am on December 27 near the intersection of James Street and Mountain Terrace.

Now, police have charged Dewar over a second similar assault that allegedly occurred on Christmas Day, with footage of that incident also shown during the bail hearing on Friday.

Magistrate Mark Millington told Dewar’s lawyer both attacks were “coward punches”, and it was alleged he filmed the man as he lay unconscious before uploading the footage to social media site Snapchat.

That video was also played to the court on Friday, where Dewar can allegedly be heard saying, “don’t hit my younger sister next time brother”, and “keep snoring”, as bystanders ran to the man’s aid.

The court heard the man has since recovered from minor injuries.

Dewar had his bail revoked on Friday and will remain in custody until his next court appearance in February, with Millington telling him he was “an inherent risk to the community”.

Picton was placed in an induced coma after the alleged attack and underwent surgery for a serious brain bleed and fractured skull.

A court was told during an earlier hearing in December there was a high probability Picton would have a lifelong disability due to his injuries. On Friday, Armadale Magistrates Court heard Dewar’s charges may be upgraded.

Dewar was bailed after the incident involving Picton, but was arrested by homicide squad detectives on Thursday over the unrelated assault on Christmas Day.

“It will be alleged the victim, a 40-year-old man, and the accused were observed speaking briefly before the accused allegedly struck the victim to the head, causing him to fall backwards, striking his head on the pavement,” WA Police said in a statement.

“The victim received facial injuries.”

Dewar was charged with acts or omissions causing bodily harm or danger.

Picton is the brother of South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton, and has worked with Labor in Victoria, South Australia and, most recently, WA.

He is regarded as the architect of some of WA Labor’s biggest successes, including Mark McGowan’s 2021 election win and federal Labor’s resurgence in the state during the 2022 election.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Picton began his career in politics in 2009 working in the office of Adelaide MP Amanda Rishworth before taking up a role with South Australian Senator Don Farrell.

He took up the position of executive general manager of corporate affairs at MinRes in July 2022, before being named as the director of strategy for the company the following year.

Picton is also an advisory board member of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

In a statement from December, Picton’s family said they were focused entirely on being with him and supporting one another.

“We would like to sincerely thank St John Ambulance, the medical team at Royal Perth Hospital and WA Police for their care, professionalism and support,” they said.

“We also want to thank Tim’s friends and colleagues for the compassion they have shown to our family during this incredibly difficult time.”

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