Picton, 36, was 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.
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He left politics in 2022 to work for Mineral Resources as a director, but prior to that also worked with the Victorian and South Australian Labor parties. His brother is South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton.
Picton’s alleged attacker, Jake Dewar, 20, appeared in court last week, where CCTV footage of the incident was played.
It showed Picton standing talking calmly to a man police allege was Dewar, who then raises his right arm and punches Picton in the face.
The altercation happened about 5.35am outside a club at the intersection of James Street and Mountain Terrace in the Perth entertainment precinct of Northbridge.
Picton was placed in an induced coma and underwent surgery for a serious brain bleed and fractured skull.
Dewar had his bail revoked last week after being charged over another incident which allegedly occurred on Christmas Day, with the magistrate describing both attacks as “coward punches”.
More to come.
