Barry Urban, a former Western Australian Labor MP, has died in hospital, three months after he was allegedly attacked at a tyre business in Perth's south east. The 56-year-old had been working at the Kelmscott business since his release from jail in 2023. Urban's death has prompted police to review the charges against his alleged attacker, Jerry Aniseto Masipau, 25, who is accused of punching Urban to the head, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground. The former MP suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition.

Urban's troubled past has been well-documented, with the former MP resigning from parliament in 2018 after an elaborate series of lies about his university qualifications and overseas military service were exposed. He had claimed to have earned a medal for investigating war crimes in the Balkans, but it was later revealed that he had ordered the medal online. Urban's claim that he was a sergeant in the West Midlands police force also turned out to be false. He was subsequently jailed for three years after pleading guilty to a number of offences, including knowingly giving false evidence before parliament. The investigation into Urban's background and actions led to his downfall, with a parliamentary committee tabling a report into his conduct.

WA Premier Roger Cook has paid tribute to Urban, describing him as a "very jovial guy" and a "very likeable guy" who had his troubles. Cook said that Urban's death was a sad event for the WA Labor family and that his thoughts were with Urban's family. The premier also confirmed that police are reviewing the charges against Masipau, who is expected to face court in Perth. The review of the charges is likely to result in an upgrade to manslaughter, given Urban's death. The incident has sparked a debate about the need for greater accountability and transparency in public life, with many calling for stricter penalties for those who engage in dishonest behavior.

The timeline of events surrounding Urban's death is as follows: * November: Urban is allegedly attacked at a Kelmscott tyre business * November: Urban is taken to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition * December: Masipau is charged with grievous bodily harm and reckless driving * February: Urban dies in hospital from his injuries * February: Police review the charges against Masipau, with an expected upgrade to manslaughter. The incident has also raised questions about the support available to former politicians who have been involved in scandals, with some calling for greater assistance to help them rebuild their lives.

Urban's death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of violent behavior and the need for greater support and resources to help those who have been affected by trauma. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the need for greater accountability and transparency in public life, with many calling for stricter penalties for those who engage in dishonest behavior. As the community comes to terms with Urban's death, there will be a growing focus on the need for greater support and resources to help those who have been affected by trauma and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.