A man accused of killing a controversial former Labor MP will fight a manslaughter charge at trial.
Former Western Australian politician Barry Urban died in hospital from serious head injuries, three months after he was allegedly attacked at a small business in Perth's east in November 2024.
Jerry Aniseto Masipau, 26, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court to unlawfully killing Mr Urban and burglary while armed.
Masipau's case was committed to the Supreme Court and he is scheduled for a first appearance on May 18.
A Samoan interpreter translated the proceedings for Masipau.
His bail was extended and three other charges, including assault and reckless driving, are scheduled for mention in Perth Magistrates Court on July 13.
WA Premier Roger Cook previously called the fatal incident "a dreadfully violent attack in the workplace".
Urban was a member of the WA parliament for Darling Range from March 2017 to May 2018, before resigning amid scandals involving false credentials.
He was found by a parliamentary inquiry to have repeatedly lied about his education and work history.
Urban said when leaving parliament: "This is a situation I regret and it will haunt me for the rest of my life."
In 2021, a District Court judge jailed Urban for three years after he pleaded guilty to a number of offences, including knowingly giving false evidence before parliament.
He was released from jail in 2023 after serving 18 months of his sentence.
