Jerry Masipau appears in court charged over attack that left ex-Labor politician Barry Urban fighting for life

The man accused of leaving disgraced former politician Barry Urban fighting for life in hospital following a heated argument at a Kelmscott tyre business has appeared in court. Jerry Aniseto Masipau only spoke to confirm his name and that he understood the five charges — which include grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary — against him when he briefly faced Armadale Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Besides attacking the ex-member for Darling Range, the 25-year-old is also accused of driving towards a 19-year-old man who had come to Mr Urban’s rescue just before 8am on Monday. During the brief hearing, Kanesthorn Anamwong, a lawyer from Legal Aid, told the court he had taken an application from Mr Masipau and asked for the matter to be adjourned for four weeks so that legal aid could be granted. He also said Mr Masipau was not seeking bail at this time. Police allege after the Seville Grove man arrived at Mr Urban’s tyre business on Gillam Drive on Monday, a verbal altercation occurred between him and the 55-year-old. It was during this heated exchange they allege Mr Masipau punched Mr Urban, causing him serious head injuries. Mr Urban, who was jailed for three years in 2021 for lying about his work, police and military service — and then continuing those lies before a powerful State Parliamentary committee, was rushed to hospital where he remains in a critical condition. Police also allege as Mr Masipau was leaving the premises, he drove at a 19-year-old male who had tried to help Mr Urban and had to leap out of the way to avoid being struck by the vehicle. The former politician was released from prison last year and had pursued a fresh start at a tyre business in Kelmscott, where he had recently been appointed manager. Mr Urban’s lies were first exposed by The West Australian in 2017, which revealed medals he wore and claimed were for investigations of war crimes in Bosnia were fakes. It was revealed that Mr Urban had embellished his educational background, forging documents claiming he had degrees and certificates from Leeds and Portsmouth universities—which he never attended. Mr Masipau is expected to appear in court again in late December.