Murder of Cassius Turvey

Cassius Turvey was a 15-year-old Noongar-Yamatji boy. He was concerned with negative stereotypes of Aboriginal people, and was well-liked in his community. His father had died of liver cancer around a month before the attack on Cassius, and he lived with his mother, Mechelle Turvey, and had two brothers. ==Death==

On 13 October 2022, Turvey was attacked by an assailant armed with a metal pole while walking home from school with a group of friends in Middle Swan, a suburb of Perth. The group, which included his best friend, One of his friends, who was on crutches from a previous injury, was also attacked, with his crutches being stolen. He escaped with facial bruising. Five days later, on 23 October, ten days after the attack, he died of his injuries. ==Aftermath==

Turvey's family said on 24 October that it could be a case of mistaken identity, and that he was targeted by the assailant thinking he was someone else. Western Australia Police and premier Mark McGowan discouraged public speculation about the reasons for the attack. a claim rejected by prosecutors and some of the defendants during the trial. Human rights lawyer Hannah McGlade, a member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, said that the death reminded the community of other deaths of Aboriginal teenagers, including Elijah Doughty and Thomas "TJ" Hickey. Turvey's funeral was held on Friday 18 November 2022. Hundreds of people attended, and it was live-streamed across the country. A memorial plaque was installed at Weeip Park, in Midland, in October 2023. In November 2023, Mechelle Turvey was named the 2024 Australian of the Year for Western Australia, "for her advocacy work to prevent violence and improve the treatment of victims of crime". ==Legal proceedings==

Police arrested and charged Jack Steven James Brearley, a 21-year-old man, with one count of unlawful wounding. After Turvey's death police also charged him with murder. Brearley was also charged with unlawful assault causing bodily harm in circumstances of aggravation and stealing, after allegedly attacking Turvey's 13-year-old friend with a metal pole and stealing his walking crutches and cap. In January 2023, police also charged three more people with Turvey's murder: Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 20, Mitchell Colin Forth, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 27. The trial of the four accused people began in February 2025 in the Supreme Court. On 8 May 2025, Brearley and Palmer were found guilty of murder, while Forth was found guilty of manslaughter, and Gilmore was acquitted. Mechelle Turvey thanked the 91 witnesses, and said that she felt lighter once the trial had concluded. On 27 June 2025, sentencing was handed down. Brearley was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 22 years, making him eligible for parole in October 2044. Palmer was also sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years, making him eligible for parole in January 2041. Forth was convicted of manslaughter and received 12 years in prison with a non-parole period of 10 years. Gilmore was acquitted of Turvey's murder but was convicted of abducting and assaulting other teenagers in the days before Turvey was hunted. Gilmore received a suspended 15-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with strict community conditions including supervision and a curfew. During sentencing, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said: "Cassius Turvey was robbed of his life and of his promise ... all because you killed him, Mr Brearley." ==Notes==