Ex-Labor MP Barry Urban dies after one-punch attack

Former WA Labor MP Barry Urban has died at the age of 56, just months after suffering a severe brain injury in an alleged attack outside his workplace in Perth’s south-east.

Nine understands Urban passed away in Royal Perth Hospital overnight.

The former MP — whose political career unravelled following a fake medals scandal that eventually landed him behind bars — was left fighting for life late last year after allegedly being struck on the right side of his head.

Barry Urban leaves Perth Magistrates Court on November 14, 2018.Credit: AAP Image/Rebecca Le May

Police prosecutors claim Urban and customer Jerry Aniseto Masipau, 25, were engaged in a verbal dispute outside Tyre Brigade in Kelmscott on November 26 before the then-55-year-old was struck and knocked to the ground.

Urban was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for his critical injuries — including a fractured skull — and was placed in an induced coma.

The 25-year-old man from Seville Grove was later charged with grievous bodily harm, common assault, aggravated burglary, having no authority to drive and reckless driving.

Masipau is expected to return to court on March 13.

The former member for Darling Range served in the McGowan government until his political career unravelled in 2018, when a fake medal scandal led to revelations he had lied about his tertiary qualifications and having investigated war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Urban was charged with forging records and providing false evidence to parliament in September 2018 for forging two university degree documents and lying about his service when he applied to join the WA Police Force in 2001.

Urban was sentenced to three years jail in November 2021, but was released on parole in April 2023.

On Sunday, Premier Roger Cook paid tribute to Urban as “a jovial guy, very likeable” but that the medals scandal had shown he “was perhaps someone of flawed character”.

“He lost his life in a very violent incident and it just goes to show once again how important it is that the police be allowed to get on and do their work,” Cook said.

“We’re very pleased that they’ve charged someone in relation to this incident and obviously the court process will now unfold.”

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