Brodie Jake Dewar’s Charge Upgraded to Manslaughter in Perth Incident

PERTH (Azat TV) – Brodie Jake Dewar, 20, has had his charge upgraded to manslaughter following the death of former Labor strategist Tim Picton. Mr. Dewar appeared in Perth Magistrates Court today via video link, acknowledging the more serious charge related to an incident outside a Perth nightclub in the early hours of December 27, 2025.

Tim Picton, 36, was found unresponsive on the ground after allegedly being struck by Mr. Dewar. He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with life-threatening injuries and tragically died approximately three weeks later. The initial charge against Mr. Dewar was grievous bodily harm, which is expected to be discontinued as the manslaughter proceedings advance.

Tim Picton’s Legacy and the Incident

Tim Picton was a prominent figure in Western Australian politics and business. He was instrumental in spearheading the campaign that led to WA Labor’s decisive 2021 state election victory. Most recently, Mr. Picton served as a director of strategy for the mining giant Mineral Resources. Beyond his professional achievements, he was a father to a four-year-old girl and the brother of South Australia’s Health Minister, Chris Picton. His death has sent shockwaves through political and business circles.

During today’s court appearance, over a dozen of Mr. Dewar’s friends and family were present in the courtroom, with crying audible when his face appeared on screen. Mr. Dewar spoke only twice: once to confirm his understanding of the upgraded charge and again to respond to shouts of ‘love you Brodie’ from supporters with ‘love you too.’ His lawyer informed Magistrate Benjamin White that a statement from Mr. Dewar’s cousin, who was reportedly with him in the nightclub and interacted with Mr. Picton, would be filed as part of the defense, claiming it was relevant to the strength of the case.

Separate Allegations Against Brodie Jake Dewar

In addition to the charge related to Tim Picton’s death, Brodie Jake Dewar faces a separate charge stemming from an alleged assault two days prior, on Christmas Day, in Kalamunda, a suburb in the Perth Hills. Police allege Mr. Dewar knocked another man, twice his age, unconscious and subsequently posted footage of the aftermath online via the social media app Snapchat. The court was told that the video allegedly showed Mr. Dewar stating, ‘My younger sister hey, don’t hit on my younger sister next time brother. Keep snoring.’ This incident led to a charge of acts or omissions causing bodily harm or danger, for which Mr. Dewar was initially denied bail.

The defense lawyer stated today that the bail application for the Kalamunda incident, which was previously denied, did not fully present all relevant footage to the magistrate. He indicated that there had been an incident between the complainant and Mr. Dewar’s 18-year-old sister leading up to the alleged attack. Prosecutors noted they had not yet been advised about the specifics of the upcoming bail application and were not prepared for it today.

Legal Proceedings and Bail Application

Both the manslaughter charge and the charge related to the Kalamunda incident have been adjourned until next Friday. At that time, Mr. Dewar is expected to make a bail application, with his lawyer indicating that footage from the Kalamunda incident will form a crucial part of the argument for bail. The legal proceedings are drawing significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the deceased and the serious allegations against Mr. Dewar.

The progression of charges against Brodie Jake Dewar highlights the severe legal consequences that can arise from alleged one-punch incidents, underscoring the complexities involved when multiple alleged assaults precede a tragic death and influence subsequent bail considerations.