Brodie Jake Dewar: Fresh claims emerge of alleged moments leading to Labor powerbroker Tim Picton’s death

A 20-year-old man charged over the death of political powerbroker Tim Picton was involved in a separate scuffle just moments before the fatal alleged one-punch attack. Fresh claims about the moments leading to Brodie Jake Dewar assaulting Mr Picton emerged in court on Friday, including that the respected Labor figure’s hand was in his pocket when he was attacked. The violence unfolded outside the Paramount nightclub in Northbridge around 5.30am on December 27 and Mr Picton, 36, died in Royal Perth Hospital on January 19. Mr Dewar was initially charged with grievous bodily harm, which was upgraded to manslaughter at a court appearance earlier this month. He is also charged with act or omissions causing bodily harm over an alleged attack in strikingly similar circumstances in Kalamunda just two days earlier, moments after midnight on Christmas Day. Mr Dewar appeared in Perth Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison on Friday when Magistrate Benjamin White gave his initial impression after viewing footage from both incidents. The magistrate said the prosecution cases appeared to be strong, warning the young man to expect jail time if convicted. Mr Dewar has not yet entered pleas and does not dispute he punched both men but has already put forward defence arguments, in arguing for bail. Defence lawyer Simon Watters said his client had been reacting to unwanted advances towards two 18-year-old female relatives and he believed both men were about to strike him first. The lawyer said there had been “some history” and “animosity” between his client and Mr Picton during the night. Mr Watters said Mr Picton had repeatedly approached Mr Dewar’s cousin, including putting his hand around her waist, despite her rebuffing him. The police prosecutor said Mr Picton was escorted out of the club for apparent intoxication at 4.45am — 15 minutes before the club closed — and then approached Mr Dewar’s cousin outside at 5.10am, trying to dance with her. Mr Dewar had a scuffle with an unknown third man before approaching Mr Picton as he stood nearby, believing the two men were connected, Mr Watters said. The court was told Mr Picton had one hand in his pocket and was smoking a cigarette with the other when Mr Dewar struck, sending the father-of-one backwards and hitting his head on the pavement. “There’s a belief on Mr Dewar’s part that he’s about to be assaulted,” Mr Watters said. Mr Picton was knocked unconscious and suffered brain bleeds and a fractured skull, and was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where he was placed on life support. The police prosecutor said the defence argument of “a pre-emptive strike fearing an assault” was unreasonable as Mr Picton made no aggressive motions. “The accused had no reason to believe Mr Picton and the other person were known to each other or might be acting in concert,” he said. “Mr Picton’s body language in no way could be reasonably inferred as a person who was about to strike someone.” His hand only came out of his pocket when he was on the ground, whereas Mr Dewar took one step forward “to shift his weight and put power into the punch”, the sergeant said. Mr Watters also gave his client’s version of events of the Kalamunda incident, which unfolded outside the local pub after Mr Dewar told a man in his 40s: “Don’t hit on my sister”. Again, he “believed he was going to be assaulted so struck first”, Mr Watters said. That man was unconscious for more than four minutes and woke up the next day with no memory of the attack. “It is highly unusual for someone to come before the court with two cases of such similarity,” the sergeant said. At the conclusion of the hearing, which Mr Dewar’s family attended, the magistrate said there didn’t appear to be “any obvious defences” but that was a matter for a higher court. “A much-loved and respected man has lost his life - that has no doubt devastated his family, friends and his colleagues,” Mr White said. The magistrate granted Mr Dewar bail on the manslaughter charge but did not grant bail for his other charge, so he remains behind bars. However, Mr Dewar will be able to apply for bail on that charge when he appears in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on February 18. Mr Picton’s daughter Charlotte turned four while he was in a coma. Last month, 750 people including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premiers and billionaires farewelled the Mineral Resources executive and former WA Labor secretary at Optus Stadium. He was remembered as a brilliant political strategist who made political history with record-breaking election results in WA in 2021 and 2022.