Trial looms for Brodie Dewar, 21, accused of killing Labor figure Tim Picton

A man accused of fatally striking Labor figure Tim Picton outside a Perth nightclub will fight a manslaughter charge at trial.

Brodie Dewar, 21, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mr Picton in his first appearance in the West Australian Supreme Court on Monday.

The 21-year-old is accused of killing Mr Picton in a one-punch attack outside a Perth nightclub in the early hours of December 27 last year.

Mr Picton was hospitalised following the incident and placed in an induced coma but died weeks later.

Justice Joseph McGrath set a 10-day trial in the Supreme Court, where Mr Dewar will fight the charge from July 20 next year.

Mr Picton served as the South Australian Young Labor president, worked for Labor MPs Amanda Rishworth and Don Farrell and in former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’ office before moving to WA.

The 36-year-old, the brother of South Australian State Development Minister Chris Picton, was credited with playing a major role in former premier Mark McGowan’s resounding 2021 election victory.

Originally published as Trial looms for Brodie Dewar, 21, accused of killing Labor figure Tim Picton