PERTH, Australia – Former WA Labor MP Barry Urban has passed away at the age of 56, following a violent altercation at a tyre business in Perth’s south-east that occurred three months ago. Premier Roger Cook confirmed the news of Urban’s death on Saturday night.
Urban was involved in a verbal dispute with a customer at the Kelmscott business, which he managed, resulting in him being allegedly punched to the head by 25-year-old Jerry Aniseto Masipau. The incident led to Urban sustaining serious head injuries and being rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in critical condition.
Masipau has since been charged with multiple offenses in connection to the altercation, including grievous bodily harm, common assault, aggravated burglary, unauthorized driving, and reckless driving. Premier Cook expressed sadness over Urban’s passing, acknowledging his flaws but also highlighting his jovial and likeable personality.
Urban’s life took a turn for the worse in 2017 when his deceitful actions were exposed during his brief time in parliament representing Darling Range. He faced scrutiny for fabricating his qualifications and military service record, ultimately leading to his resignation less than eight months into his term.
The catalyst for Urban’s downfall was his false claim of receiving a medal for investigating war crimes in the Balkans, which was later discovered to be misleading. Further investigations revealed his lies about academic achievements and past employment history, painting a picture of a man dubbed by Judge Carmel Barbagallo as “the real-life Pinocchio of parliament.”
Despite his troubled past, Urban’s untimely death has left a void in the WA Labor family, with many remembering him as a friendly and imperfect individual. The circumstances surrounding his passing have prompted a review of the charges related to the initial altercation, underscoring the tragic end to a turbulent life marked by deceit and downfall.